GUWAHATI, April 6: With barely three days left for the high-stakes Assam Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a powerful pitch for the ruling BJP during the final phase of the poll campaign in the state, launching a scathing attack on the Congress for allegedly “supporting infiltrators and allowing encroachment on the state’s land.”
Speaking at a rally in Bhawanipur-Sorbhog in Bajali district, the Prime Minister alleged that the Congress could do anything for power. “Congress had, during its tenure, allowed infiltrators to encroach xatra land in Assam. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA government has taken measures to free such land from the infiltrators. BJP has also given land rights to indigenous people and tea tribes,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also warned that the “Congress wants to make a law in Assam so that if the word ‘infiltrator’ is used, one could be sent to jail. They will even declare infiltrators as victims in the law itself, while the majority of indigenous people here would have to face the threat of being jailed.”
In another rally at Barpeta, the Prime Minister accused the Congress of aligning with Pakistan’s narrative and singing to the neighbouring country’s tune, be it during the surgical strikes in 2016 or Operation Sindoor last year.
“This connection of the Congress with Pakistan compromises the security of India, which cannot be allowed,” Modi said.
Appealing to the electors of Assam to vote for the BJP, he said that the coming days would be about safeguarding Assam and its identity. “We have to strengthen Assam’s identity across the world. So, every vote for BJP will strengthen the foundation for a Viksit Assam (developed Assam),” the Prime Minister said.
He further asserted that “BJP has always delivered what it promised and will continue to do so. We are taking Assam to such heights which the people deserve.”
In regard to development, Modi accused the Congress of taking a short-term view, in contrast to the BJP’s focus on long-term national development.
“The sincere efforts of the BJP-led government in implementing various peace accords over the past decade has paved the way for lasting peace in the state,” he said.
The election campaign by political parties in Assam will come to a conclusion on Tuesday evening. Elections to 126 Assembly constituencies are scheduled on April 9.
