Guwahati, Jan 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress, accusing it of allowing widespread infiltration and land encroachment in Assam during its long years in power, allegedly to secure electoral gains.
Addressing a public gathering in Kaliabor, Modi claimed that illegal immigration grew unchecked under successive Congress governments, resulting in large-scale encroachment on forests, wildlife corridors and traditional institutions. He alleged that land was deliberately “handed over to infiltrators” for votes, a practice he said endangered Assam’s identity, culture and ecological balance. The Prime Minister asserted that the current BJP-led government was taking firm steps to protect the state’s heritage by evicting encroachers and safeguarding forests, animal corridors, and religious and historic sites, efforts he said were receiving widespread public approval.
Warning that infiltration was not confined to Assam alone, Modi described it as a serious national concern. He urged people to remain vigilant, accusing the Congress of engaging in what he termed negative politics that, according to him, had weakened public trust in the party. Modi said the Congress lacked a clear vision for development, claiming it had lost the confidence of voters across the country.
Highlighting the BJP’s growing political footprint, the Prime Minister said the party had emerged as the preferred choice of voters nationwide due to its focus on governance and development. He cited recent election outcomes to support his claim, pointing to Bihar, where he said the BJP received a strong mandate despite being in power for two decades. He also referred to civic poll results in Maharashtra, stating that Mumbai’s municipal corporation had given the BJP a historic mandate for the first time, and noted that the party now holds the mayoral post in Thiruvananthapuram following local body elections in Kerala.
Earlier in the day, Modi performed the bhoomi pujan for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at ensuring safer wildlife movement near Kaziranga National Park while strengthening regional connectivity in Assam.
