PM'S REMARKS AT THE INAUGURATION
OF BSNL'S MOBILE SERVICE IN NAGALAND
The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee today inaugurated the BSNL’s mobile
service in Nagaland and made the first call to the Minister of
Communications, Shri Arun Shourie at New Delhi. The following
is the text of the Prime Minister’s remarks while talking to Shri
Shourie on this occasion :
"Hello, Shourie ji.
I am happy to bring Nagaland on the mobile phone map of India
by making this first call to you.
First of all, I convey
my greetings to the people of Nagaland.
My hearty congratulations
to the Ministry of Communications. My special kudos to BSNL for
starting its cellular service in Nagaland.
The people of Nagaland
had been waiting for this day for quite some time. But, as they
say, 
The coming of mobile
phone service to Nagaland is yet another sign of the changing
times. I am sure that this process of positive change will further
speed up in the time to come.
Arunji, I must confess
that I don’t know how the mobile phone technology works! But I
do know that –
- It is all about talking.
- It is all about connecting people.
- It is all about removing distances.
- And it is all about making life
better.
Therefore, today
my message to the people of Nagaland is this:
- Let the talks continue.
- Let the dialogue proceed.
- Let distances be removed.
- Let confidences be built.
And let us together
create peace and accelerate development.
I would like all
of the North-East to be connected with this facility as soon as
possible. The people of Nagaland and other States in the North
East should fully benefit from the Information and Communication
Revolution sweeping the rest of India.
I am happy that your
Ministry has connected all the blocks in the North-East through
a VSAT network. If the quality of service is poor anywhere, it
should be improved.
Thank you.
Now I hand over the
phone to The Governor and Chief Minister of Nagaland. They want
to say "Hello" to you."
