Guwahati, March 13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of endangering national security by handing over land to infiltrators, while launching projects worth over Rs 24,250 crore as part of his two-day tour to Assam ahead of the assembly elections.
Modi stated that the state was experiencing a new era of peace and development under the "double-engine" government, and that the BJP administration was resolving a "historic injustice" towards the tea garden community by granting them land rights for their homes.
Referring to his past as a tea seller, Modi accused the Congress of neglecting tea garden workers by denying them land rights for decades.
The Prime Minister launched projects valued at over Rs 4,570 crore in Kokrajhar, and later launched development initiatives worth Rs 19,680 crore in Guwahati.
In the first event of the day, Modi addressed a public meeting in Kokrajhar district virtually from Guwahati after rain disrupted his travel schedule.
He stated that the sounds of bombs and gunfire caused by insurgency were a thing of the past, and asserted that the BJP ensured long-lasting peace in the region, while the Congress, during its tenure, signed various accords for "selfish political interests."
"The Congress endangered national security by handing over the land of indigenous people to infiltrators," the PM said, alleging that the grand old party was always in league with the infiltrators and never legally granted land rights to the state's indigenous population.
The Congress handed over Adivasi land to the infiltrators, and in districts like Dhubri and Goalpara, the situation was grim, affecting Kokrajhar's demographics, he claimed.
"I am happy that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading a major initiative to reclaim land from encroachment, and the BJP government has granted land rights to the indigenous people," the PM said.
Modi alleged that Kokrajhar has witnessed the betrayal of the Congress for decades, as the opposition party had made false promises.
"The Congress signed peace accords just for show and for selfish interests, but the BJP worked for permanent peace, and ensured the development of Bodoland," Modi said.
He stated that hills of Bodoland echoed for decades with sounds of guns and bomb blasts, but "now those days are over, and it is moving ahead in the path of peace and development."
In an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabbat ki Dukaan' (shop of love) slogan, the Prime Minister claimed: "The Congress is a 'jhute vaido ke dukaan' (a shop of false promises), and with one lie it gives four more 'super lies' as a gift, as they do not intend to fulfill any promise."
In contrast, the model of the 'double engine' government is before the people, and an honest effort is being made to fulfil all the promises made, he said.
"Punish the Congress in the upcoming elections and send a clear message that there is no place for infiltrators in this country," he asked the people.
"In today's programme itself, projects worth more than Rs 4,570 crore have been launched, with over Rs 1100 crore to be spent on the development of road infrastructure in Bodoland, which will further strengthen road connectivity in the state," he said.
Three new trains — the Kamakhya-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, the Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Express, and the Narangi-Agartala Express — were launched by the PM.
These trains will not only be convenient for the people but also promote trade and tourism, Modi said, adding that a railway workshop will be set up here to help the region become a major logistics hub.
In his second programme of the day in Guwahati, the PM dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation for projects worth around Rs 19,680 crore, focusing on infrastructure and energy sectors.
He also released the 22nd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme for over 9.3 crore farmers across the country at the same programme.
Modi launched the process of giving land rights to tea garden workers, with 28,241 families receiving it in the first phase. The PM ceremonially handed over the pattas to three families at the event.
"Actually, I am repaying my debt by giving land pattas to all tea garden workers. The tea leaves produced by you reached Gujarat, and by selling tea brewed from it, I have reached in this position today. I have your blessings," referring to his 'chaiwala' profession.
He maintained that while the tea garden workers have given Assam and India recognition at the global level, the previous Congress government never even enquired about them.
The PM said that Assam is becoming a model for all northeastern states, and its development in the last 10 years is leaving an imprint in West Bengal, as people there want a "BJP government this time".
Assembly elections in Assam and West Bengal are likely to be held in April.
Stressing that the welfare of farmers was crucial for his government, Modi said a security net was being developed around them through various schemes.
"The Congress gave Rs 6.5 lakh crore as MSP in 10 years before 2014, while we have provided Rs 20 lakh crore in the last decade," he pointed out.
Without elaborating, the PM said the Congress was spreading misinformation "even amid the West Asia war situation".
Modi also said that the Congress kept India dependent on foreign nations for decades, but the NDA government changed that gradually, focusing on achieving self-reliance in all sectors from agriculture to energy.