Next BJP government in Assam will make the State flood-free: Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the NDA government at the Centre is committed to ending insurgency in the Northeast, while assuring that the next BJP government in Assam will work towards making the State “flood-free”.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the Green Field, Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar as the chief guest of the celebration of the first BTR Accord Day, Shah attacked the Congress for militancy in the region and said that the grand old party had signed many agreements with different militant outfits in the past, but failed to keep the promises it made.
“I have come here to iterate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are committed to fulfil the clauses of the BTR Accord, which will pave the way for peace and development in the region. It marks the beginning of the end of insurgency in the region,” he said.
He said the NDA government has been taking necessary steps to establish peace and harmony across the country with special emphasis on the Northeast, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. “Several armed militant organisations in the Northeast have already come under the peace initiative and the process is on to rehabilitate the surrendered militants,” he said.
Shah exuded the confidence that the BJP along with its allies would comfortably win in the coming elections to the Assam Assembly. “It is a positive signal that the UPPL has also joined hands with the BJP to take up and complete more development works in the BTR,” he said.
He added that an amount of Rs 500 crore has been sanctioned to develop road connectivity in the region.
He also assured to preserve the languages and cultures of the Bodo people and other indigenous groups living in the BTR, besides protecting the political, social, economic and cultural rights of the people without any discrimination.
He lauded the BJP-led government in Assam headed by Sarbananda Sonowal that has taken several bold and meaningful steps to solve the problems of the State during the last five years with successful governance. He also appreciated the proactive steps initiated by minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
At the same function, Shah formally laid foundation stones of seven projects and schemes in the BTR that included construction of a medical college at Tamulpur, Gorkha Bhawan at Chirang, polytechnic and vocational training institutes at Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts, Bodoland Institute of Rural Development at Gossaigaon, among others.
The Union minister also handed over cheques amounting to Rs 5 lakh each to the families of Bodoland movement martyrs, besides a grant of Rs 4 lakh each to the NDFB militants who have laid down arms.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal while addressing the gathering said the BTR Accord will definitely provide a “monumental” space for development of the region. He also thanked the Prime Minister and Home Minister for their wholehearted support in bringing about the BTR Accord last year.
Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said a new beginning has been made under the leadership of Modi and Shah.
Speaking on the occasion, BTC chief Pramod Boro said that there is a complete change in the scenario after the signing of the BTR Accord last year and the responsibility of the new government in the BTR is to root out corruption in administration. He appealed to the Union Home Minister to recover and seize all illegal arms from the BTR.
Later in the day, addressing the BJP’s ‘Bijoy Sankalpa Samabesh’ at Swahid Mukunda Kakati Kshetra of Kendukuchi near Nalbari, Shah said that if the BJP retains power in Assam, the government will make it sure that the flood problem in the State is solved for ever.
He said the BJP government is also committed to finding a permanent solution to the insurgency problem in the State. He also said that the BJP government “will completely end the culture of agitation in the State.”
Shah lashed out at the newly formed Congress-AIUDF alliance in the State, saying the tie-up was made keeping in view the vote bank politics. He said the combine would open “all gates” to infiltrators if voted to power. He also criticised the newly formed regional political parties in Assam and said these outfits would only help the Congress.
Shah said the BJP governments at the Centre and Assam can only provide full security to the people in the State. “The Congress in their regime played a divide and rule policy among various groups that resulted in killing of thousands of youths in the State,” he added.
Appealing to the people of the State to vote for the BJP, Shah said Assam has become “bullet-free and agitation-free” and the next saffron dispensation will make the State “flood-free”, describing floods as its biggest problem.
Mentioning the Bhakti movement of Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhabdeva, Shah said the State government has taken steps to construct a project at Bardowa at a cost of Rs 155 crore. He also paid tribute to martyr Mukunda Kakati offering garlands on his statue.
The function was also addressed by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma.
