Imphal, Apr 5 (IANS): BJP President Amit Shah, who is on an election campaign tour of the north east states, on Friday said that his party has transformed the entire northeastern region in the past few years.

After visiting Arunachal Pradesh in the day, Shah moved to Manipur where he addressed a gathering in Outer Manipur constituency's Thoubal district.

He said: "For the last 40 years there was no meeting of the North Eastern Council. But it was the BJP government that held the first meeting. Besides, the BJP government had increased the NEC developmental fund by 258 per cent".

Shah also claimed that 1.3 lakh families in the state were given free cooking gas connections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party President also criticised the previous Congress government in the state for its performance.

"Congress' Chief Minister O. Ibobi had sold out water, land and other properties including the largest freshwater lake, the Loktak," he said.

Shah accused the previous government of engineering bloodshed between the hills and the valley people.

He recalled the development work done by the BJP government.

"The free medical facility is available for all in the state, eight helipads have been inaugurated and there are helicopter services in the hills and remote areas. 500 youths have been benefitted by the startup programmes and another 500 youths will be selected soon," he said.