Congress kept Assam divided for votes, says PM Modi in Assam polls campaign

He accused the party of creating 'disconnect' between people and places

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday alleged that Congress kept Assam divided for votes and the BJP-led government in the state was trying to reach out to all communities for their development.

"Congress kept Assam divided for votes. But BJP is making all our efforts to unite Assam and all living in Barak Valley, Brahmaputra Valley, hills and the valley. All sections of the society are now getting benefits of government schemes, be it free LPG connections, free treatment under Ayushman Bharat scheme or the schemes for the tea garden workers," Modi said addressing his first election campaign rally in South Assam's Karimganj district.

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Modi, however, did not say a word about the citizenship issue, be it the CAA or the NRC, which is a major concern for voters in South Assam, having almost equal number of Bengali-speaking Hindus and Muslims. NRC is a concern for the Bengali-speaking Muslims but the Bengali-speaking Hindus, who were left out of the NRC hoped that Modi would give them assurance about citizenship through CAA.

South Assam or the Barak Valley, comprising Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts has 15 Assembly constituencies. "Barak Valley had given us 9 out of 15 seats three decades ago when BJP was not doing well in Assam. This time we hope Barak Valley will give us more votes than 2016 and provide a push to BJP's double engine government," Modi said.

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Modi, who began his speech in Bengali, said that Barak Valley was well connected with the rest of India via Chittagong port and Meghna river in neighbouring Bangladesh decades ago but the connectivity was snapped due to Congress' vote bank politics. "Congress made Assam one of the most disconnected state. But since BJP came to power in 2016, we are improving the connectivity by roads, rails, waterways and airways. At the same time we are trying to reach out to people of all communities and trying to build bridges with hearts," he said.

Unstable Congress

Modi called Congress an "unstable party" for the selection of its allies in West Bengal, Kerala and Assam. "In West Bengal and Assam they are playing lal salam with the left but they are wrestling against it in Kerala. Congress has become so weak that they can join hands with anyone to grab power. Just imagine the party, which is not stable in its approach, can they give a stable government in Assam? Can they take Assam forward?" Modi asked.

Also Read | CAA agitation reduced, won't impact BJP votes in Assam polls: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Before Modi's rally, Congress lashed out at him saying the Prime Minister made several false promises to the people of Assam since 2016 but failed to implement them. Talking to reporters in Guwahati, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala mentioned BJP's promise to construct a bridge over the Brahmaputra to connect Majuli island with Jorhat town in eastern Assam, the promise to construct 1,300km express highways along the Brahmaputra, besides others.

He said the Modi government hatched a conspiracy to destroy the identity of the Assamese people by bringing the CAA and even failed to check crime against women and improve the condition of children.