PM Modi Unveils Major Development Initiatives in Assam Ahead of Polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a two-day visit to Assam preceding the assembly elections, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects exceeding Rs 24,000 crore on Friday. This significant investment underscores the government's commitment to accelerating growth in the northeastern state.
Historic Land Rights for Tea Garden Communities
In a landmark decision, Modi launched the distribution of land ownership certificates to Assam's tea garden workers, the first such initiative since their ancestors were relocated by British planters from the Chotanagpur plateau nearly 200 years ago. Approximately 3.5 lakh families across 825 tea gardens are set to benefit, gaining legal land rights for residences currently held without ownership in labour lines.
Addressing the tea garden workers, Modi described this move as "ending a historic injustice towards the tea garden workers." He emotionally connected with the community, stating, "I am repaying my debt by giving land pattas to tea garden workers. The tea leaves produced by you reached Gujarat, and by selling tea brewed from it, I have reached this position today. I have your blessings." He also criticized the Congress party for alleged neglect of this community during its tenure.
Boost to Agricultural and Infrastructure Sectors
Modi released the 22nd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring Rs 2,000 each to over 9.3 crore farmers nationwide. He highlighted the scheme's global recognition, noting that developed nations admire India's capability to directly transfer funds to crores of farmers "with the click of a button." The Prime Minister emphasized the government's dedication to farmer welfare, citing expenditures of Rs 12 lakh crore on fertiliser subsidies and Rs 20 lakh crore provided as Minimum Support Price (MSP) over the past decade, compared to Rs 6.5 lakh crore under Congress rule before 2014.
Key projects inaugurated or initiated include:
- The Kopili Hydro-Electric Project, valued at over Rs 2,300 crore.
- The Numaligarh-Siliguri Product Pipeline Capacity Enhancement Project by Oil India Limited.
- Phase 1 of the North East Gas Grid, connecting Guwahati with Numaligarh, Gohpur, Itanagar, and Dimapur.
Enhancements in Transport and Waterways
In the transport sector, Modi dedicated railway electrification projects, including the Rangiya-Murkongselek line (558 km), the Chaparmukh-Dibrugarh line (571 km), and the Badarpur-Silchar and Badarpur-Churaibari lines, with a combined cost of nearly Rs 2,250 crore. Waterways infrastructure received a boost with foundation stones for cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat and Neamati, while the Regional Centre of Excellence at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh was launched to serve as a maritime training and research hub.
Commercial and Tourism Development
Modi inaugurated the PM Ekta Mall in Guwahati, a commercial and tourism hub showcasing One District One Product (ODOP) items, GI-tagged products, handicrafts, and handloom goods from Assam and other states. He asserted that Assam's development over the past decade has positioned it as a model for the northeast, with progress influencing neighbouring West Bengal, where he claimed people now aspire for a BJP government.
Political Accusations and Future Plans
Earlier in the day, Modi virtually unveiled projects in Kokrajhar after bad weather disrupted his visit. He accused Congress of "betraying Bodoland for decades" and keeping generations "entangled in false dreams," contrasting this with the NDA's efforts through the Bodo Peace Accord, which brought major groups together for lasting peace. Modi alleged that Congress endangered Assam's security by siding with infiltrators and denying indigenous people land rights, leading to demographic imbalances in districts like Dhubri and Goalpara. He praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's campaign to free land from encroachment and provide legal documents to tribal communities.
Modi is scheduled to fly to Silchar on Saturday to unveil additional projects worth Rs 23,550 crore, further emphasizing the government's focus on regional development ahead of the elections.
