PM Modi inaugurate projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore in Assam; Opposition questions silence on 'key issues'

'Modi did not reply to our questions why BJP imposed CAA despite strong public protest against it,' Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Ripun Bora asked

Weeks before Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated projects worth over Rs. 3,000 crore in oil and gas sector in Assam and said that revamp of the infrastructure in the Northeast was his government's priority.

Modi also inaugurated a new engineering college in North Assam's Dhemaji district and virtually laid the foundation stone of another engineering college in the silk town Sualkuchi in western Assam.

"The Centre and Assam governments are working together for the balanced development of Assam and the major basis of this is the state’s infrastructure. But governments before 2014 showed a step-motherly attitude to the North bank region and did not give importance to the need for infrastructure to improve healthcare, education or industries. This despite the fact that this region had all the resources and talents," Modi said while addressing a gathering at Silapathar in Dhemaji in North Assam.

"These projects will strengthen the identity of the region as a hub of energy and education and would act as a symbol of development for Assam," Modi said.

Modi inaugurated INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, Oil India Limited's Secondary Tank Farm at Madhuban, Dibrugarh and a Gas Compressor Station at Hebeda Village, Makum in Tinsukia remotely from Silapathar.

Modi said he would try to visit the state again before first week of March when the notification for Assembly polls could be announced.

This was Modi's third visit to Assam since Jan 23. Modi had last week virtually inaugurated several projects to improve water transport and connectivity in Assam and Meghalaya.

Questions from Opposition's "grand alliance"

Hours later, Congress-led "grand alliance" of six opposition parties asked why Modi remained silent on "key issues" concerning identity, culture and welfare of the state such as the CAA, NRC, ST status to six more ethnic communities, flood, price rise and daily wage to tea garden workers.

"Modi did not reply to our questions why BJP imposed the CAA despite a strong public protest against it. He said he will again come to Assam before election dates are announced but why did not he come when the people of Assam were suffering due to a severe flood situation. He also did not come when Assam was burning due to the anti-CAA agitation. Five people were killed by police. Why was he silent today about his party's promise about according Scheduled Tribe status to six more ethnic communities and promise to hike daily wage of tea garden workers to Rs. 351?" president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Ripun Bora asked while addressing a joint press conference of the six parties of the grand alliance.

Leader of AIUDF, Aminul Islam asked why the BJP government failed to give a flawless NRC despite its promise before 2016 Assembly elections.