Home minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Congress and opposition parties in Assam alleging that the earlier governments under Congress did not do anything to bring back the youth of northeast from the path of insurgency.
Shah said, “Assam saw several agitations over the past few decades. Lots of Assamese youth died during these agitations. It disturbed Assam’s peace and halted the region’s development.”
Shah said that several separatist factions in the northeast forced the youth to take up arms and the central government has ensured that these factions join the mainstream. He listed the India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement, ending the blockade in Manipur, Bru-Reang refugee settlement and the recently concluded Bodoland territorial council elections as important steps taken to ensure peace and stability in the region.
“I am proud to say that in the recently concluded Bodoland elections there was a turnout of more than 80% and there was not a single incident of bloodshed reported. This tells that if there is determination for development and respect towards peace and stability then the government can work with the people. PM Modi has commitment towards peace and determination to develop the region.”
The union home minister pointed out that it was the Modi government that restored normalcy in the region and the government is determined that development in the region will pave the way for people to change their mindset and join the mainstream. Shah also lauded the chief minister Sarabananda Sonowal and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for their role in bringing separatist voices back into the mainstream.
He remained confident that BJP will win the upcoming elections and said that the Himanta Biswa Sarma and Sarabananda Sonowal duo have led the state towards achieving new milestones. The home minister lauded the government for its handling of the Covid-19 crisis and said that the state was able to contain its Covid-19 death rate.
Shah also asked the people of Assam to vote for BJP and alleged that Congress is taking help of separatist elements to return to power. “Elections are approaching, once more people with divisive agenda will reappear in a new form, they will try to convince us to take the path of agitation. I want to question them if their agitation ever brought any development to Assam.”
“Few people who were responsible for the deaths of Assamese youth are now forming political parties. The ones who were responsible for firing bullets are indirectly supporting the Congress party. They want to dent BJP’s vote share and want to restore the Congress government’s rule in the state,” Shah further added.
During his address, Shah said the Modi government kept northeast region in focus during its 6 year rule. “In the last six years, PM Modi visited the northeastern states thirty times. The government is committed towards developing the region. Every time he visited the region he brought gifts for the people of the region to spur growth and development.”
Shah also attacked the Congress for allowing poachers a free hand which led to fall in the rhino numbers in the state and said that the BJP government addressed this concern to restore the pride of the Assamese people. “These poachers during the Congress rule in Assam hunted rhinos with protection from the state and the ruling BJP government has now dealt with this issue firmly and Kaziranga is free of infiltrators.”
During his speech, Shah also appealed to the protesting farmers in Delhi’s borders to resolve their issues regarding the agriculture laws through discussions.
Shah laid foundation for a medical college in Guwahati and 9 law colleges across Assam during his two-day visit.
Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Assam and Manipur to take stock of the party’s preparedness ahead of the 2021 legislative assembly elections.
