PM makes twin pitch ahead of Assembly elections in Assam: Development, anti-infiltration

At Mangaldoi in Assam’s Darrang district on Sunday, he laid the foundation stones of various projects, including the Darrang Medical College and Hospital, the Guwahati Ring Road Project, and the Kuruwa–Narengi Bridge over the Brahmaputra.

Speaking at the event, he echoed a statement he had made the previous day in strife-torn Manipur — the 21st century is Northeast India’s time for growth and development. He also said that the BJP government is cracking down on “infiltrators” and accused the Congress of becoming “protectors of anti-nationals and infiltrators”.

On development in the Northeast, Modi said, “After Independence, big cities, economies and factories were developed in Western and Southern India. During this time, a major part of Eastern India got left behind in the march to progress. Now, the BJP government is changing that situation. Twenty-five years of the 21st century have passed by… The next part of the 21st century belongs to the East, belongs to the Northeast. Your time has arrived. Assam’s — the Northeast’s — time has come.”

He said that Assam is now one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and credited the BJP governments at the Centre and the state for this.

“India is the fastest growing country in the world and Assam is among the fastest growing states in the country…. Today, Assam is moving forward with a 13% growth rate. This is a very big achievement. This is your achievement… This success is because of the labour of the people of Assam and the effort of the BJP’s double-engine government… In every election, Himanta (Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister) ji and his team have been repeatedly getting great support. In the recent panchayat elections, Assam gave us a historic victory and blessings. The BJP government is working with the resolution of making Assam India’s growth engine. Today’s programme is also a part of this resolution of ours,” he said.

Promising a seamless network of multimodal connectivity with the Ring Road project, which he laid the foundation stone for on Sunday, Modi said that the government has been prioritising connectivity in the region to accelerate growth.

“For the fast progress of any region, fast connectivity is very important. That’s why a big focus of our government has been on connectivity. Road, rail, air, 5G, internet, broadband — all of which you will all benefit from. Life has become easier, business has been eased… This has also created new avenues for the employment of the youth…,” he said.

Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “For six decades after Independence, there was a Congress government in Delhi. For decades, the Congress was also in Assam. But the Congress built only three bridges over the Brahmaputra. Then you gave us (the BJP) the chance to serve you, and in one decade, our government has made six big bridges.”

The ‘anti-infiltration’ plank

While leading with a development pitch for the state and the region, Modi also made “infiltration” one of the major issues of focus. The question of alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been a long-standing and sensitive one in Assam, and has repeatedly been raised by the BJP.

Referring to the Congress and to the massive eviction campaign undertaken in Assam by the BJP government, he said, “Today they (the Congress) have become big protectors of anti-nationals and infiltrators. When Congress was in power, it would give importance to infiltrators. Today, the Congress wants that these infiltrators remain in India forever and that India’s future be decided by infiltrators.”

Referring to the BJP’s evictions in Darrang district, he said, “At one time, Mangaldoi (Darrang district headquarters) had seen a big movement against infiltrators to save Assam’s identity. But the former Congress government punished you for that. They have taken revenge on you for that. On our places of worship, on our farmers’ and Adivasis’ land, they have allowed occupation. After the formation of the BJP and NDA government, those conditions are being changed. These illegal occupants are being removed. Under Himanta ji’s leadership, lakhs of bighas of land have been freed from infiltrators.”

Making an aggressive pitch on this issue, he said, “We will not let anyone steal the rights of India’s youths, farmers and Adivasis. These infiltrators commit atrocities against our mothers, sisters and daughters. This will not be allowed.”

“Through infiltrators, there was a conspiracy to change the demography of border districts. This is a big threat to national security… I want to tell those political leaders that I fully accept your challenge. Take it in writing, I will see how much strength you use to protect infiltrators, and we will show the way we dedicate our lives to remove infiltrators… This country will not forgive those who protect infiltrators,” he said.

‘Self-reliance’

Later in the day, Modi also addressed a gathering in Golaghat district, where he inaugurated the Assam Bioethanol Plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and laid the foundation stone for the Polypropylene Plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL).

He said in Golaghat that the focus of the Centre is now on building capability for self-reliance with respect to the country’s energy requirements.

“Today, India is the world’s fastest developing country. Just as India is developing, our electricity, gas and fuel needs are increasing at the same rate. We have been dependent on other countries for these. We are importing crude oil and gas in large quantities, and in return, India has to give other countries lakhs of crores of rupees every year. With our money, employment is created and incomes increase in other countries. It is essential to change this situation. Because of this, for its energy requirements, India has set off on the road to become self-reliant,” he said.

He said India is simultaneously working on discovering new reserves of crude oil and gas within the country while also enhancing its green energy capabilities.

‘I can swallow the venom’

He referred to critical comments by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge in 2019 on the government’s decision to posthumously grant a Bharat Ratna to Bhupen Hazarika, saying that he found out about them on Saturday and that he found the remarks “painful”.

“No matter how many abuses they hurl at me, I am Lord Shiva’s devotee, I can swallow all the venom. But when somebody else is insulted, I cannot stand it. You tell me, was my decision to give Bhupen Da the Bharat Ratna correct or not?” he asked.

“I know their (the Congress’s) whole ecosystem will descend on me today, saying that Modi is once again shedding tears. For me, the people are my god. And if my soul’s voice does not come out when I go to my god, then where will it come out? These are my masters, these are my respected ones, these are my remote control. I don’t have any other remote,” he said.

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