HAILAKANDI, March 31 - Speaking at an election rally at Aenakhal in Hailakandi in favour of local party candidate Saumyajit Dutta Choudhury, BJP national president Amit Shah alleged that development activities in the State suffered due to the unabated infiltration of Bangladeshis in the State.
Shah also blamed the alleged "massive corruption indulged in by the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in the State" for the lack of development in the State.
Alleging that the present State government is patronising the illegal infiltrators as vote bank, Shah said that the development in the State is not at all possible if infiltration is not totally stopped. He promised that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre will seal the Bangladesh border if the party comes to power.
The BJP national president, however, reiterated the party's stand on protection of the Hindu migrants living in the State, particularly in Barak Valley, and promised a new legislation for this purpose. He also clarified that it is not the responsibility of Assam to accommodate all the Hindu refugees.
Shah claimed that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal have certain understanding and the two leaders only pretend to attack each other in public. He cautioned the people of the State against the "communal politics" played by the two parties and urged Gogoi and Ajmal not to mix politics and religion.
He promised of developmental activities in Barak Valley, such as night landing facility in the Kumbhirgram airport in Silchar, revival of the Cachar Paper Mill, establishment of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, a mini Secretariat, four-lane roads, etc.
He expressed his shock over the lack of any developmental activities here during the 15-year Gogoi government.
Earlier, speaking in the meeting, BJP leader Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced free scooters to all college-going girls, free admission in colleges for BPL students, regularisation of posts of venture teachers, appointment of all TET-qualified candidates, Rs 5 lakh grant to SHGs, Rs 1.5 lakh for construction of pucca houses, etc. There should not be any kachcha houses by 2010, he said. He also assured of schemes for the tea tribe.
Our Silchar Correspondent adds: Addressing another election rally for party candidate Kishore Nath at Borkhola Assembly constituency, Shah said, �The Congress has not been able to provide citizenship to the Bengali Hindus who have come to India due to religious persecution in Bangladesh. The BJP is committed to its promise of granting citizenship to such people.�
In yet another meeting at Dholai constituency, Shah lashed hard at the Congress party saying that the story of post-Independent India has been a sordid tale of oppression, suppression and underdevelopment scripted by none other than the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. �During the Chinese aggression in 1964, Nehru bade good bye to Assam. Thanks to the valiant Indian soldiers, the beautiful land remains in India.�
Criticising AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that the mother-son duo must answer how so many Bangladeshis infiltrated India.
