STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Jan 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening led a vibrant roadshow in Guwahati, drawing huge crowds and offering a glimpse of Assam’s rich cultural diversity on the first day of his two-day visit to the state.
The Prime Minister arrived in the state capital in the evening and is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of projects worth around ₹7,000 crore during his visit.
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The roadshow began from the roundabout on National Highway-17 near the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and concluded at Azara, covering a stretch of nearly four kilometres. Modi, seated at the front of a black SUV, waved to cheering supporters lining both sides of the road.
As his cavalcade moved slowly along the route, slogans such as “Modi Ji Zindabad” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoed through the streets. Thousands of people thronged the area, prompting the deployment of double-layer bamboo barricades to maintain order and ensure security.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other senior BJP leaders accompanied the Prime Minister during the roadshow, which showcased the party’s organisational strength in Assam, where Assembly elections are expected later this year.
Along the route, several platforms were set up where hundreds of artistes from different parts of the state performed traditional dances, songs and instrumental music, highlighting Assam’s diverse ethnic and indigenous culture. An official said the aim was to present a cultural panorama of the state to welcome the Prime Minister.
Following the roadshow, Modi proceeded to the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Sarusajai to witness a grand Bagurumba dance performance by over 10,000 artistes of the Bodo community.
The event saw elaborate security arrangements and traffic regulation. Earlier in the day, Guwahati Police Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Jayanta Sarathi Borah said vehicular movement was managed as per protocol to facilitate the smooth conduct of the roadshow and minimise inconvenience to the public. “We ensured proper traffic arrangements so that people could safely gather and have a glimpse of the Prime Minister,” he said.
