Congress abused Assam youths’’ talent, capabilities; it should never be forgiven: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday slammed the Congress at a poll rally in Assam, accusing it of having “abused” the talent and capabilities of the state’s youths and urged people to never forgive the party.
Alleging that the Congress was only concerned about Bangladeshi infiltrators, he claimed the grand old party had meted out “step-motherly” treatment towards Assam during its rule. Addressing two election rallies in support of NDA candidates in Tezpur and Dergaon, the senior BJP leader said, “The Congress has always abused the Assamese youths, their talent and capabilities. They should not be forgiven.”
Claiming that Karnataka’s IT Minister Priyank Kharge had opposed Assam’s industrialisation, he said it was an “insult” to the northeastern state’s youths, and demanded an apology from the Congress.
“The only concern of the Congress is Bangladeshi infiltrators for its vote bank. Politics should not be done only for government formation; politics should be done for nation-building,” Singh said.
He claimed that due to illegal immigration from Bangladesh, the population balance in a few districts of Assam has been distorted.
“Under the BJP’s rule, no illegal immigrant can stay in Assam. The state has welcomed its guests, but this has been misunderstood,” Singh said.
Because of infiltrators, there has been a threat to Assam’s culture, identity and pride as the Congress “crossed all limits” for its vote bank politics, he alleged.
“The Congress always meted out step-motherly treatment towards Assam and neglected it. During the Congress’ rule, Delhi kept Assam at a distance… Since Independence, the Congress has discriminated against Assam and abused its rights,” Singh alleged.
During Congress rule, extremism, insurgency, blasts, killings, kidnappings, poverty and starvation dominated news in Assam, and even festivals were observed in an atmosphere of fear, he claimed.
“But the situation changed after the BJP came to power. Assam is now at the centre of development, and it is the northeast’s development engine. India’s development gains pace if Assam progresses… Now, everyone talks about the region’s connectivity and prosperity with pride,” Singh added.
He claimed that more than 7,500 extremists have laid down their arms in Assam to join the mainstream under the BJP’s rule.
“The BJP eliminated corruption and did justice to tea garden workers by giving land rights… Nobody can stop NDA from getting two-thirds majority in Assam… After losing the Assam elections, Congress will blame the EVM.”
“Assam is going to be Congress-free. Like in the Centre, Assam will also witness a third consecutive BJP-led government,” the defence minister said.
He said the Congress used to call border villages ‘last village of India’, while the BJP has termed those the country’s first villages with a focus on development, showing a difference in the outlook.
“Earlier, India was not taken seriously on the global stage, but now everyone listens when India speaks. Only the BJP can keep India’s head high,” Singh asserted.
Singh further said, “Congress never understood Assam’s culture and civilisation. They ignored the northeast’s sentiment for a long time. On the other hand, the BJP has always protected the culture and identity of Assam, and has not betrayed the state in the last 10 years.”
He said that Assam’s economy saw a three-fold jump in the last decade and aims to become a USD 150 billion economy by 2030.
“The Congress could not understand how Assam is progressing. The reason for the state’s progress is the BJP’s intention and policy, neither of which the Congress possesses. Industry and investment are on the rise, while infrastructure is getting developed at a fast pace,” Singh said.
Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on April 9, while the results will be declared on May 4.
The outgoing Assam Assembly has 64 BJP MLAs, while its allies AGP has nine legislators, UPPL has seven, and BPF has three members. In the opposition camp, the Congress has 26 MLAs, AIUDF has 15 members, and CPI(M) has one MLA. There is one Independent legislator in the House.
Congress neglected Assam; BJP ensured its development: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the BJP-led government in Assam has not only ensured the state’s development but also protected its identity.
He accused the Congress of having neglected the state and the northeastern region by adopting a “step-motherly attitude” towards them.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the region at the centre of development, the BJP leader said.
Addressing a rally in support of the BJP’s Jorhat candidate Hitendra Nath Goswami, the Maharashtra chief minister alleged that infiltration was at its peak in Assam under Congress governments.
“People had to launch a movement against it, and scores were martyred. But the influx did not stop, and the state was burning. It was staring at a full demographic change.”
“But the situation changed when Modi came to power. Infiltration has been stopped, and almost all militant groups in the state are returning to the mainstream,” he claimed.
Fadnavis claimed that the state’s demography would have changed and Assam’s history would have been rewritten under the Congress rule.
“But the Modi government works not just for development, but also protects the state’s identity, culture, history, and tradition,” he said.
He told the gathering that the BJP-led government has ensured massive infrastructure development for the state.
Mentioning the Tata Group’s semiconductor unit at Jagiroad, Fadnavis said, “It is a gift of Modi ji to Assam. It will place the state on the global map.”
He added that countries with the ability to manufacture semiconductors will be global leaders in the future, and India has joined the elite ranks of a handful of nations.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Fadnavis alleged it had always adopted a “step-motherly attitude” towards the northeast, due to which the region did not see much development, and was embroiled in unrest.
He also criticised the opposition party for its “anti-national stance” during the West Asia crisis, claiming it was trying to create discontentment among the people by raising false doubts over the availability of LPG and fuel.
“We had also been in the opposition, but we had never acted in such a shameful manner,” he said.
Taking a dig at state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, who is also the opposition party’s candidate in Jorhat, Fadnavis said, “Those in Lok Sabha should remain there. BJP will return to power, and he will have no work here.”
Gogoi is also the opposition party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha.
Assam polls about chasing out infiltrators, removing dark clouds of militancy: Irani
Former Union minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday asserted that the Assam Assembly elections this time were about “chasing out each and every infiltrator” from the country, while accusing the Congress of shielding the illegal migrants and covering the state under “dark clouds” of militancy.
She maintained that the BJP-led government has ensured progress for the state on all fronts, with women especially leading the development narrative now. Addressing a campaign rally for the party’s Sissiborgaon constituency candidate Jibon Gogoi, Irani said, “This election is not about making someone an MLA or Himanta Biswa Sarma the chief minister again. This is about chasing out each and every infiltrator away from our country.”
Mentioning the Dhemaji blast of August 15, 2004, in which 13 people, including school children, were killed, the BJP leader said, “These were innocent people killed. What was their mistake? Such dark clouds engulfed the state that innocents lost their lives.”
Irani asserted that the state has now reached a phase where everyone can unfurl the National Flag without any fear, which was a credit of the current dispensation at the Centre and the state.
Accusing the Congress of shielding the infiltrators, she questioned why the grand old party and its allies in the opposition were against the revision of electoral rolls before the elections. “Only Indians should be included in the electoral rolls. When the Election Commission wanted to revise the rolls, why did the Congress protest it? They want to protect Indians or the infiltrators?” she questioned.
Irani lauded the state government for clearing over 1.65 lakh bighas of land from illegal encroachers, while hitting out at the Congress for failing to take any step while in power.
Maintaining that the state has been marching in the path of development in the last 10 years, the former MP and popular actor said women are occupying a central position in this growth narrative.
“Earlier it was said that women voted wherever their husbands asked them to; but now it is the women who tell their husbands to vote for lotus (BJP’s election symbol) and the men comply,” she said.
With 33 per cent seat reservation for women on the way to being implemented, they will have even greater stakes, Irani said, adding, “It has been possible due to the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.”
The former minister also highlighted various welfare schemes for different sections, including farmers and youth, and urged the people to ensure that the BJP-led alliance retains power in the state.
Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on April 9. Votes will be counted on May 4.