Kamalpur/Mangaldai/Guwahati, April 3 BJP leader Nitin Nabin on Friday alleged that the Congress had worked for "immigrants" and urged voters to remember its tenure while casting their votes in the Assam Assembly elections.
Addressing rallies in support of party candidates in Kamalpur, Mangaldai and New Guwahati constituencies, he said the BJP-led NDA would return to power for a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
"The Congress government had opened the gates for immigrants and gave our land to them for vote bank politics. During their tenure, women and land were not safe," Nabin said.
The BJP government, chosen by the people of Assam, has shown the way out for immigrants and begun a series of development works, he claimed.
"We have detected the immigrants and removed them (from the voter list). Now, we will deport them from Assam," Nabin said.
He said the Congress government always engages in appeasement politics and supports immigrants, while the BJP stands with the indigenous people.
"The last 10 years were a period of development in Assam. When you go to vote, you must remember the phase before this," the BJP chief said.
Nabin said that he has been visiting Assam since 2009-10 for various party work and has travelled extensively across the state.
"At that time, there was no talk of development at all. There were tensions when I wanted to travel from one location to another. People used to discuss only violence and agitation," he claimed.
Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on April 9, while the results will be declared on May 4.
Nabin said that during BJP rule, a lot of job opportunities have been created in Assam.
"The Congress did not do anything for the tea garden communities. However, the NDA started giving them land rights and distributed land deeds. Now, the BJP has promised to increase the daily wages to Rs 500," he added.
The BJP chief also criticised former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not visiting the Northeast regularly, and claimed that PM Narendra Modi has probably visited all districts of the region.
"We have reclaimed 1.25 lakh acres from immigrants and ensured the rights of the tribals," he added.
Nabin alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not wear the traditional Assamese scarf, 'gamocha', when it was offered to him at an event in Delhi, thereby hurting the sentiments of the state's people.
"Rahul Gandhi is a part-time politician. He is seen only during elections. Once elections are over, he goes to a foreign country," he added.
Nabin further asserted that the BJP government has been taking bold steps for the nation's security and for eliminating corruption from the system.
He also claimed that the Congress government did not develop infrastructure and build roads along the border with China, fearing that soldiers from the neighboring nation would use those very routes to enter the country.
"However, our government, under the leadership of Modi, has developed all border areas and built world-class roads. This has led to prosperity in far-flung areas," the BJP leader asserted.