Ram Krishna Nagar/Lakhipur, April 4 BJP chief Nitin Nabin accused the Congress of betraying the people of the northeast and manipulating their sentiments, while asserting that it was his party's governments that had "bridged the gap" between the region and the rest of the country.
He alleged that successive Congress governments in Assam had turned the Barak Valley into a "crime hub" for their vote bank politics.
People punished the Congress for "appeasing" infiltrators by voting it out of power in the state, Nabin told an election rally in Cachar district.
Speaking about the BJP's Lakhipur candidate, Nabin said, "When the opposition asks what we have done in this last decade, I want to ask them about their policy and intention. For 70 years, they betrayed the people of the northeast and played with their sentiments."
He claimed that when people from the region visited Delhi earlier, they said that they were going to India. "But now, the entire India is visible in every nook and corner of the northeast. This has been possible as development is reaching every corner under Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
He maintained that the Modi government's biggest achievement has been opening bank accounts for the marginalised sections under Jan Dhan Yojana, which has ensured that the benefits of all schemes reach the intended beneficiaries directly.
Asserting that the BJP-led government will score a hat-trick of winning the Assembly polls, Nabin said, "We do not contest elections for power but to bring change in people's lives. People have blessed us in the last two Assembly elections, and they will do so again this time."
Nabin claimed the Barak Valley was discriminated against by the Congress governments, and travelling to this region from Guwahati 12 years ago was an ordeal.
"Now, the roads are good... Once known for violence and unrest, the state is now known for development and hope," he added.
Speaking at another rally in Sribhumi district, Nabin said, "Previous governments had turned Barak Valley into a crime hub for vote-bank politics. Appeasement politics was at its peak during the Congress rule, as they were more concerned about infiltrators."
Speaking about the party's Ram Krishna Nagar candidate, he said people decided to "punish" the Congress and brought the BJP-led NDA to power with a "clear vision for development".
Asserting that the BJP-led government has ensured taking 'Virasat and vikash' together, Nabin said crime has been checked in the southern part of the state.
"No criminal dares to trouble the people anymore as they know that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will not spare anyone," he said.