Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said, central government wants to make the Northeast a hub for trade with South East Asian countries. But for that peace must prevail in the region, he added.<br/><br/>The Home Minister was addressing a 'Sainik Sammelan' on the occasion of 181st Raising Day of Assam Rifles in Shillong. He said, Assam Rifles, with its glorious past, has to play an important role in ensuring peace in the Northeast. He complimented the force for beginning the process for inducting a batch of 127 women in its rank.<br/><br/>The Minister said, insurgency in North-East is now at its lowest in the last 18 years and there has been a 30 per cent decrease in violence.<br/><br/>Mr. Singh asserted that fast-pace development of the Northeast is the priority of NDA government at the Centre. He said, the kind of development that had to take place in Northeast has not happened even after almost seven decades of independence. The Home Minister is on a two-day tour of Meghalaya beginning yesterday.