Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that illegal immigrants would be identified and deported “one by one” from Assam, alleging that unchecked infiltration had altered the state’s demographic balance and posed a serious threat to its culture, land and identity.
Addressing a large public gathering at Khanikar playground in Dibrugarh, Shah said illegal immigrants had encroached upon culturally significant sites associated with Srimanta Sankardeva and forest land in Kaziranga. He alleged that previous governments had allowed infiltration for vote-bank politics, while the BJP was committed to protecting the interests of Assam’s indigenous communities.
During his visit, the Home Minister laid the foundation stone for the second complex of the Assam Legislative Assembly in Dibrugarh and inaugurated and launched multiple development projects worth around ₹1,700 crore. The projects include infrastructure related to wildlife health and research. Shah said the new assembly complex, which will include residential facilities for MLAs, would strengthen Dibrugarh’s role as Assam’s second capital.
Praising Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Shah said the state government had fulfilled its infrastructure commitments and expressed confidence that the BJP would return to power in Assam for a third consecutive term under Sarma’s leadership.
Highlighting development initiatives, Shah said Assam had emerged as a priority state for infrastructure expansion, citing progress in roads, railways, waterways and semiconductor-related projects. He also spoke about flood mitigation plans involving large reservoirs, which he said would help control floods, boost tourism and water sports, and provide long-term relief to lakhs of people.
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress, Shah alleged that the party had failed to contribute to Assam’s development and had instead left behind violence and instability. He credited the BJP government with providing land rights to tea garden workers and ensuring national recognition for iconic Assamese figures such as Bhupen Hazarika and Gopinath Bordoloi.
The Home Minister also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the culture of the Northeast, contrasting it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to promote Assamese symbols such as the gamosa and the legacy of Sankardeva and Madhabdeva on national and international platforms.
Reiterating the BJP’s political message, Shah urged voters to bring the party back to power for a third term to ensure development, cultural protection and firm action against illegal immigration in Assam.
