Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress party of deliberately attempting to alter the demographic composition of Assam by neglecting border security. Speaking at a public meeting in Cachar district, Shah said that porous borders during the Congress regime allowed continuous infiltration, affecting the state’s land, employment, and food resources. “The Congress governments left our borders open to infiltrators. An attempt was made to change Assam’s demography by taking away jobs from the youth, food from the poor, and land from villages,” he said. Shah emphasised that the BJP government, over the past ten years, has worked relentlessly to curb infiltration and reclaim land illegally occupied by outsiders.
Security and Development: A BJP Priority
Shah highlighted that under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state government has focused on both security and development. He contrasted the BJP’s tenure with Congress rule, asserting that the previous government failed to initiate meaningful development projects, while Assam is now witnessing unprecedented infrastructure growth. “Around 14 kilometres of roads are being built daily, one of the highest rates in the country. The BJP government has ensured the state is safer, infiltration has been curbed, and law and order improved,” Shah said. He appealed to the people of Assam to re-elect the BJP government for a third consecutive term, promising that every infiltrator who entered the state during Congress rule would be sent back.
Vibrant Villages Programme Phase II
The home minister also launched the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme from Cachar, aimed at strengthening border villages and curbing migration. The expanded programme, with an outlay of Rs 6,900 crore, will cover 1,954 villages across 15 states and two Union Territories. Shah described the initiative as a significant step in making border villages secure, developed, and self-reliant. “There was a time when border villages were called the last villages of India. They were backward in employment, electricity, and education. PM Modi’s Vibrant Villages Programme ensures every village on the border becomes the first village of India,” he said.
Assam’s Progress and Future Plans
Shah underlined the progress Assam has achieved under the BJP, citing the absence of bomb blasts and the state’s rapid development. He said the government is working to make Assam flood-free, alongside strengthening the border regions. The Union Minister emphasised that the combination of security and infrastructure growth has transformed Assam into a model state in the northeast. He urged the people to continue supporting the BJP to ensure sustained development, secure borders, and the empowerment of local communities, framing the upcoming elections as crucial for consolidating Assam’s progress and future stability.
