Citing the "historic" decision of the Centre to lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from "major parts" of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, the BJP on Saturday asserted that peace has returned to the Northeast region which has now become a part of the "mainstream". Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-pronged approach of development and dialogue with insurgent groups in dealing with various challenges in the region has paid dividends. A "colourful, beautiful and peaceful" Northeast awaits people from across the country, he said at a press conference while appealing for travel and investment in the region. The Congress had left the region "devastated", he alleged and added that Prime Minister Modi had the big heart the region needed. People of the region wanted the government to reach out to them, which has happened under him, the minister said. Modi's vision of lifting the AFSPA completely from the region will also be realised, Rijiju said.