On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi government had reduced the number of areas of the districts affected by left-wing extremism by 70%.

After setting up the National Tribal Institute in Delhi, he said the government has also removed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from more than 66% of the Northeast.

The Union Home Minister said security was a harbinger of developments in tribal-dominated areas and areas affected by left-wing extremism in the country’s Northeast. “The safe northeast and safe central India paved the way for the development of tribes,” he said.

Shah also said there were 8,700 unfortunate incidents in the Northeast under Congress. Under the Modi government, that number has been reduced to 1,700, he said. He said that under the Modi government, only 87 security personnel were killed in the Northeast, compared with 304 under Congress.

The Union Home Minister said the country has many institutions, such as the Planning Commission, now Niti Aayog, LIC and Bharat Heavy Electrics Ltd, which have contributed significantly to the country’s progress. Likewise, this NTRI will play a key role in developing tribes in the country.

Shah said that within 100 years of India’s independence, the institute would become the backbone of tribal development. He said research and education had been given top priority since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.