Amit Shah Intensifies Attack on Congress Over Assam Infiltration Issues
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp critique against the Congress party on Friday, holding it responsible for years of unchecked infiltration in Assam. Addressing a public gathering in the poll-bound state, Shah alleged that Congress governments had deliberately left the borders open, enabling infiltrators to enter and attempt to alter the demographic composition of Assam.
Congress Blamed for Demographic Shifts and Border Negligence
Shah asserted that during Congress's tenure, Assam faced severe challenges as infiltrators encroached on the rights of indigenous Assamese people. "These Congress governments left our borders open to infiltrators. Infiltrators continued to enter Assam," he stated, emphasizing that this was part of a calculated effort to change the state's demographics by depriving local youth of jobs, the poor of food grains, and villages of their land.
BJP's Achievements Under Himanta Biswa Sarma Highlighted
In contrast, Shah praised the current BJP government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for its proactive measures. He highlighted that in the second term, the Sarma administration has worked diligently to clear lakhs of acres of land occupied by infiltrators and remove them from the state. "Now, elections are coming for the third time. Form the BJP government here once again. I promise you that we will send back every single infiltrator who entered during the Congress regime," Shah vowed, rallying support for the upcoming polls.
Infrastructure Development and Contrast with Congress Era
Shah also underscored the BJP's commitment to infrastructure development, contrasting it with Congress's alleged inaction. He claimed that while Congress ruled for decades without significant progress, the BJP has achieved remarkable feats in just ten years. Specifically, he noted that in the last five years, Assam has seen the construction of 14 kilometres of road daily and the building of almost hundreds of bridges, including four major new ones, boosting connectivity and economic growth.
Background on Himanta Biswa Sarma and Political Shifts
It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was formerly a part of the Congress government in Assam. After experiencing strained relations with the party, he switched allegiance to the BJP in 2015 and later ascended to the chief minister's role, succeeding Sarbananda Sonowal. This political transition has been pivotal in shaping Assam's current governance landscape.
Launch of Vibrant Villages Programme and Visit Details
During his two-day visit to Assam, Shah also inaugurated the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme, an initiative aimed at enhancing border village infrastructure. This phase will cover 1,954 border villages across 15 states and two Union Territories, with the launch event held in Cachar district. The visit focused on launching border infrastructure projects and engaging with the public ahead of the elections, reinforcing the BJP's agenda of security and development.
