Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday made it clear the BJP was not against the indigenous Muslims of Assam and was against infiltrators, as he accused the Congress of facilitating illegal immigration
Share
KALIABOR (ASSAM) — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday made it clear the BJP was not against the indigenous Muslims of Assam and was against infiltrators, as he accused the Congress of facilitating illegal immigration during its rule in the state.
Addressing an election rally here for AGP's Keshab Mahanta, he also asserted that the alliance between the BJP and the AGP was "like the Sun and the Moon", and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to stop day-dreaming that the partnership will end.
Shah alleged the Congress handed over the world-famous Kaziranga National Park to infiltrators who encroached on forest land and endangered the one-horned rhinoceros.
"It was the NDA government that evicted the encroachers and ensured Kaziranga was once again on the world tourism map," Shah said.
The former BJP chief alleged that when infiltrators are removed from encroached land, the Congress tries to portray it as faith-based politics.
Also read: UCC to be implemented in Assam; immigrants must be sent back: Amit Shah
Assam Elections: Kharge announces '5 guarantees' of Congress, focus on women's welfare
"The Congress settled infiltrators, and when they are evicted, the party tries to give a Hindu-Muslim angle to it. I want to make it clear that the BJP is against infiltrators and is not opposed to indigenous Muslims in Assam," he said.
Shah made the remarks following accusations from opposition parties that the BJP was polarising the people of Assam based on faith ahead of the assembly elections.
Alleging the Congress did nothing for Assam's development during its 15-year rule in the state, Shah targeted Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to the poll-bound northeastern state on Thursday, asking, "What did the party do for the state during its rule?"
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh represented Assam (in Rajya Sabha), but neither the then Central government nor the state government did anything for the state's development," he alleged.
The Congress, when it was in power at the Centre, gave only Rs 1.28 lakh crore to Assam in 10 years. "But Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Rs 9.78 lakh crore to the state between 2014 and 2024," Shah said.
The Centre gave Rs 1.35 lakh crore for infrastructural development, which included building highways, railways, waterways, airports, nine medical colleges and several engineering colleges, pointed out.
The Union home minister also pointed out that the prime minister took the initiative of setting up a Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor chips facility at Jagiroad.
"The BJP has taken steps to preserve the heritage of the state, constructed a memorial for the martyrs of the Assam agitation against foreigners, built an 80-feet statue of legendary Ahom general Lachit Barphukan and took his achievements to all corners of the country," he said.
Shah alleged the Congress did not honour Assam's first chief minister, Gopinath Bordoloi, and eminent singer Bhupen Hazarika with the Bharat Ratna.
"The BJP gave classical language status to Assamese and ensured development in the entire state," he added.
The BJP leader termed the alliance between his party and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) like the "sun and moon" to allege that the Congress was spreading rumours that the alliance between the two parties would end soon.
"Rahul baba, stop daydreaming... The alliance has lasted for 10 years, and the bond between the elephant and lotus (the poll symbols of the AGP and BJP, respectively) will continue," he said.
Shah exuded confidence that the BJP-led NDA would score a hat-trick of victories in the forthcoming assembly polls and urged the BJP workers to work hard and ensure that the AGP candidates win their seats.
He asserted that in the next five years, the youths of the state would build the future of Assam as well as the country.
On a two-day visit to the state, Shah campaigned for the BJP's alliance partner, the AGP's candidate and Minister Keshab Mahanta in Kaliabor. He will address three rallies on Friday.
Elections to Assam's 126 assembly constituencies will be held on April 9, and counting will be taken up on May 4.