Modi vows to put Assam on development track

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday set “fast track development’’ of Assam as the BJP’s agenda for the 2016 Assembly polls.

While attending two massive public rallies in Kokrajhar and Guwahati, Modi hit out at the 15-year Congress rule for “lack of development” in the state. Modi’s development mantra comes as a counter to Congress’s campaign slogan “15 years of trust, 15 years of development”.

“My three-point programme for Assam is development, development, development. I am astonished why Assam has so many problems when the same government is there for 15 years and the state has sent a prime minister (Manmohan Singh) for ten years... They could not do anything in 15 years and now they want me to solve all their problems within 15 months.

Don't you think it’s unfair to me?” Modi said while addressing his maiden rally at Kokrajhar, headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) ruled by the Bodoland peoples’ Front (BPF). The BTF and the BJP have inked a pre-poll alliance for the polls.

 “Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been in power in Assam for ten years. He represents Assam in Rajya Sabha. BPF was partner to congress yet development did not take place. Now we will take Bodoland on fast track development,” Modi added.

 Modi also assured that the Karbi community living in the plains and Bodos living in the hills would be granted Scheduled Tribe status.

 He also declared that the Central Institute of Technology (CIT) at Kokrajhar would be upgraded to a deemed university status.

However, Modi left the crowd disappointed he dis not declare any financial package for the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District areas that is under the rule of the BTC.

BJP and BPF leaders  had publicly claimed that the Centre would give Rs 1000 crore development package for three years to the BTC.

 The prime minister on Tuesday did not make any such declaration. He also did not speak on the contentious issue of separate Bodoland state.

Later, at a youth rally  in Guwahati, Modi categorically said that BJP wants to tab the youth power of the state. “Assam has huge natural and water resources. Youths here are dedicated and strong. Yet they do not get scope. They migrate. We want to create opportunities here. For that we are developing road and railways. Development is out only agenda,” Modi added. Reacting to Modi’s campaign in the state, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said there was nothing new in the promises made by BJP.