Dhekiajuli (Assam), March 29 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the BJP government has stopped infiltration in Assam in the last 10 years, but it is "not enough", as each apprehended illegal immigrant must be sent back.
Addressing a poll rally in the Dhekiajuli area in Sonitpur district, he said the BJP had vowed 10 years ago to stop infiltrators from entering Assam and kept that promise.
"However, this is not enough as we have to now send each illegal immigrant out of the country in the next five years," Shah said.
He alleged that infiltrators had taken away the employment of the indigenous Assamese youth and seized the foodgrains of the poor.
Shah claimed that the Himanta Biswa Sarma government has "freed" 1.25 lakh acres of land encroached by the infiltrators, and in the next five years, Sarma will ensure that no land remains in their control.
He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of opposing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in several states to "protect the infiltrators".
"Rahul Gandhi and company are opposing SIR to protect infiltrators. We will not let this happen," he said.
Shah accused Assam state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi of "wanting to protect infiltrators", and asked him to clarify his stand on the issue.
He alleged that the Congress did nothing for the martyrs of the Assam Agitation.
It was the BJP government in the state that set up 'Swahid Smarak' in Guwahati in memory of the Assam Agitation martyrs, Shah added.
The home minister alleged that the Congress, during its rule, did not take measures to safeguard the nation, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a tough stand against terrorists.
"When terrorists struck in Uri, the PM ordered a surgical strike; whereas after the Pulwama attack, there was Balakot airstrike, and after the Pahalgam incident, he ordered 'Operation Sindoor' to teach them a lesson," Shah said.
He also accused the Congress of being always ''anti-Assam'' as was ''evident during the India-China war of 1962 when the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said goodbye to the state and left it to its fate''.
Shah asserted that under Modi's leadership, no 'mai ka laal' (mother's son) could ''snatch even an inch of the nation's land''.
He said the BJP government established peace in the state by signing accords with militant groups and ending insurgencies.
"During the Congress rule, the state witnessed gunfights and bomb explosions, but the BJP ensured that 10,000 youth laid down their arms and joined the mainstream," Shah added.
He said the Congress ruled the state for 15 years but "why didn't they sign the accord in Bodoland?"
"The answer is simple: The Congress' policy is to make people fight and rule over them," Shah said.
He asserted that the PM has opened the Centre's coffers for Assam's development, but "I want to ask Gaurav Gogoi, what did his father Tarun Gogoi do for the state?"
He urged people to vote for the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections to make Himanta Biswa Sarma the chief minister again so that Assam is made infiltrator-free, and peace and development are ensured.
Shah apologised to the people for the delay in reaching the venue by over three hours due to inclement weather.
He was scheduled to arrive in a helicopter from Guwahati but it was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions and he reached the venue by road.
Elections to the 126 assembly constituencies will be held on April 9, with counting scheduled on May 4.