Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the INDIA bloc during a rally in Assam, accusing its leaders of trying to protect infiltrators by opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls. He alleged that those criticising the process were acting like “deshdrohis” and standing in the way of efforts to keep illegal migrants out of the electoral system.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new terminal of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, the Prime Minister said the Election Commission had begun the SIR exercise to ensure that “infiltrators are kept out of the electoral process,” but some political parties were opposing it. “Those who are criticising this exercise are trying to protect infiltrators,” he said, adding that such actions were against the nation’s interests.
PM Modi also targeted the Congress, saying that the development of Assam and the Northeast was never a priority for previous governments. “For decades, Congress ignored Assam and the entire Northeast. The mistakes Congress kept making for years are now being corrected one by one by the Modi government,” he said.
Speaking about his connection with the state, Modi said, “My attachment to the soil of Assam, the love of the people here, and especially the affection of the mothers and sisters of Assam and the Northeast inspire me continuously. Today, a new chapter is being added to Assam’s development.”
He described the new airport terminal as a symbol of growth and opportunity. “Modern airports and better connectivity are gateways to new possibilities. When people see world-class highways and airports in Assam, they feel that the state is finally getting justice,” he said. Comparing development to the region’s iconic river, he added, “Just like the mighty Brahmaputra flows continuously, development under the BJP’s double-engine government is flowing uninterruptedly in Assam.”
The Prime Minister accused Congress of deliberately neglecting the region, saying leaders in the past questioned the need for modern infrastructure in the Northeast. “This mindset kept Assam and the Northeast backward for decades,” he said.
PM Modi also invoked Assam’s first chief minister, Gopinath Bordoloi, accusing Congress of having once supported plans that could have harmed Assam’s identity before Independence. “When conspiracies were being hatched to merge Assam with undivided Bengal or East Pakistan, Bordoloi ji stood firm and saved Assam. After him, Congress again followed policies that were anti-Assam and based on appeasement,” he alleged.
Calling the airport inauguration a moment of pride, Modi said, “This is a celebration of development, not just for Assam but for the entire Northeast. The whole country will see Assam celebrating the festival of progress.”
