Biswanath, April 01: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party at an election rally here on Wednesday, alleging that if Congress comes to power, it will enact a law protecting infiltrators, which the BJP and its allies will never allow to be implemented.
Addressing his second rally in Assam’s Biswanath district, the Prime Minister accused the Congress party of being anti-development, the mother of corruption, and of compromising the state’s identity, security, and cultural heritage. He said that the Congress put Assamese identity at stake for power and harmed the state by integrating infiltrators into the mainstream.
Modi said, “The entire country knows that the Congress is anti-development and has become the mother of corruption in independent India. But in Assam, the Congress has committed sins for which the people of Assam have paid the price.” He alleged that the Congress party, driven by vote-bank politics, encouraged illegal encroachments, leading to the encroachment of millions of acres of land.
The Prime Minister stated that the BJP government has taken action against these encroachments, freeing thousands of acres of land, and restoring the state’s heritage and ecology. Referring to the Laokhowa and Burhachapori sanctuaries, he said that rhinos had once disappeared from these areas, but now, thanks to conservation efforts, they are returning.
Taking aim at the Congress, Modi said, “The Congress’s biggest sin has been protecting intruders. Now, after coming to power, the same Congress wants to enact laws to protect them.” He made it clear that the BJP and the NDA will not allow any such efforts to succeed.
Referring to development work, the Prime Minister said that in the last 10-11 years, Assam has seen significant improvements in infrastructure, connectivity, and economic activity. He said that today, fighter jets are landing on Assam’s highways, reflecting the state’s transformed image.
He made a major announcement, stating that the country’s first underwater twin-tube road and rail tunnel will be built under the Brahmaputra River, at a cost of approximately ₹18,662 crore. This will increase employment opportunities and strengthen connectivity.
The Prime Minister noted that Assam is setting new records in crude oil production and strengthening the country’s energy sector amid the global crisis. He said that improved road, bridge, and rail networks are boosting agriculture, industry, and tourism, creating employment opportunities for youth.
Emphasizing women’s empowerment, Modi said the government aims to create 4 million “lakhpati didis” in Assam. He noted that unprecedented work has been done in recent years to enhance women’s safety, education, and income. He explained that more than 2.2 million families have been provided with permanent houses, and efforts are underway to empower women as homeowners.
Referring to land rights, the Prime Minister said that under Mission Vasundhara, over 2.3 million indigenous families have received land ownership rights. He described this as a “safety net” for tribal and marginalized communities, asserting that it represents true social justice.
Raising the issue of tea plantation workers, Modi said that Biswanath is known for its tea plantations, but the Congress party neglected these workers for decades. He said that despite 200 years of hard work and tradition, tea plantation workers were deprived of basic amenities.
Accusing the Congress party of indifference to history and heritage, he said the party tried to attribute the contributions to the freedom struggle to a single family. Referring to Kanaklata Barua and Bhupen Hazarika, he said the people of Assam would not tolerate their disrespect.
He said the BJP government honored Bhupen Hazarika with the Bharat Ratna, while the Congress ridiculed it. He also mentioned Babu Chhabralal Upadhyay, saying the Congress party had forgotten its own leaders, while the BJP named an engineering college after him.
The Prime Minister said that projects worth hundreds of crores of rupees are underway to address floods and soil erosion in Assam, and an additional ₹18,000 crore is planned to be spent.
Appealing to voters for a record turnout at the rally, Modi said, “All voting records should be broken on April 9th. Every BJP-NDA candidate is a soldier of Assam’s development.” He assured that if the BJP forms the government again in the state, Assam will develop at an even faster pace.