Shah promises to make Assam free from floods, influx in 5 years

Guwahati, Feb 25: Making his third trip to the poll-bound state Union Home Minister, Amit Shah today promised to make Assam “free from floods and influx in the next five years” – two main issues afflicting the state – while appealing to the electorate to once again give their mandate in the saffron party’s favour.

Shah also promised that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government would strive to make Northeast and Assam the biggest contributors to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Union leader took direct digs at the ‘Grand Alliance of Congress and AIUDF”, while questioning the credibility of Congress for siding with the Badruddin Ajmal-led communal AIUDF.

“Can a party that takes the side of the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, and believes in vote-bank politics make Assam influx-free,” he asked.
“On the other hand, BJP has laid the base for an infiltration-free, andolan-free, rhino-poaching free, and of course, violence-free Assam (by curbing militancy and bringing outfits to the mainstream),” Shah said.

Addressing a massive rally at Borduwa to lay the foundation for the Rs 180-crore development project at Batadrava Than, the birthplace of Vaishnavite social and religious reformer Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev – Shah further slammed the Opposition Congress, saying that “The BJP did in the past seven years what the Congress couldn’t in as many as 70 years.”

Assam government has set a target of 18 months to complete the Batadrava development project.

Shah also urged chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to enhance the number of over-50-year-old namghars (a Vaishnavite worship centre) receiving financial aid (for renovation) from 8000-odd to as many as 25000 namghars.

Promising to make Assam a state where youths get jobs; Shah said that “we are looking to make the state one of the formidable states of the country”. 

Shah, who landed at the LGBI Airport in the wee hours of Thursday, also paid a visit to the Maha Mrityunjay Temple at Puranigudam in Nagaon district, having the 'Asia's tallest' Shiv ling, where he offered his prayers at the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav.