Tezpur (Assam), March 31 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday criticised the Congress at a poll rally in Assam, accusing it of "exploiting" the talent and capabilities of the state's youth, and urged people to never forgive the party.
Alleging that the Congress was only concerned about Bangladeshi infiltrators, he claimed that the grand old party had treated Assam unfairly during its rule.
Addressing an election rally here in support of sitting MLA and ally AGP's Tezpur candidate Prithiraj Rava, the senior BJP leader said, "The Congress has always exploited the Assamese youth, their talent and capabilities. They should not be forgiven."
"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.
"During Congress rule, Delhi kept Assam at a distance... Since Independence, Congress has exploited Assam's rights," Singh alleged.
"Insurgency, poverty and starvation dominated the news in Assam under the Congress government. But it changed after the BJP came to power," he asserted.
"Assam is at the centre of development, and it is the northeast's development engine. India's development gains pace if Assam progresses," 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 has eliminated corruption and has given land rights to tea garden workers... Nobody can stop NDA from getting a two-thirds majority in Assam," the defence minister said.
He said that the Congress used to call border villages 'the last village of India', while the BJP has termed those the country's first villages, 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.