GUWAHATI, Jan 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of disrespecting the culture and heritage of Assam, claiming that it was evident from the party rolling out a red carpet for infiltrators.
Modi, speaking at a Bodo folk dance performance here, also asserted that the BJP government was “cleansing the sins” of the previous Congress regimes.
“When we show respect to Assam and its culture, some people don’t like it. You all know which party doesn’t like showing respect; it is the Congress,” he said.
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He also alleged that the Congress ensured Assam and the state’s Bodoland remained disconnected from the mainstream.
“Challenges were there in front of Assam. But, instead of finding solutions through dialogue, Congress pushed the state towards violence,” the Prime Minister asserted.
He said the grand old party “opened the doors of Assam for infiltrators” for the sake of “vote bank politics”, and these illegal settlers grabbed land all over the state.
“Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma government is now cleansing the sins of the Congress, and clearing encroached land,” Modi said.
The BJP government is connecting hearts and places in Assam, he said.
Affirming his respect and love for the northeastern state, Modi said that no other prime minister visited Assam as much as he has.
Greeting people on the ongoing ‘Magh Bihu’ festivities, the PM said he never let’s go of an opportunity to witness the culture of the state from close quarters.
“My wish is that Assam’s culture should always get the right platform and recognised worldwide. We have already made attempts for such recognition for ‘Bihu’ and ‘Jhumoir’, and with the Bodoland Mahotsav in New Delhi,” he said.
The ‘Bagurumba Dwhou’ dance performance is more than just a celebration, it is a show of respect to the Bodo community, Modi said.
The PM also recalled the contributions of luminaries of the community towards social reform, cultural renaissance and strengthening political consciousness.
Asserting that peace has returned to Assam through efforts of the BJP government, Modi said, “There are so many things going on in my mind. I am emotional thinking of all the progress happening. How the state has moved from bloodshed to cultural performances; sounds of gunshots have given way to that of musical instruments, the silence of curfew has been replaced by music.”
He said the Bodo peace accord of 2020 has been instrumental in bringing lasting peace, which has opened new avenues of education and progress.
The youth of Assam and Bodoland have been at the centre of this progress, and they are taking it forward, the Prime Minister said.
“Assam is among the fastest developing states and its progress is part of the country’s growth story,” he added. (PTI)
