Assam News: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday inaugurated the redeveloped complex of Batadrava Than, the birthplace of Vaishnavite saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, in Assam’s Nagaon district, a project costing Rs 227 crore. Addressing a public meeting after the inauguration, Amit Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is committed to making Assam completely free from illegal infiltration. He said, “Today, the process of freeing the birthplace of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva in Nagaon from the clutches of encroachers has been completed.” His statement was met with resounding applause from the audience. Shah described it as a historic step towards restoring Assam’s cultural and spiritual identity.
Batadrava Than to become a new center of devotion, culture, and spiritual consciousness
The Home Minister said that the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva Abhirbhav Kshetra (birthplace) will become a major center of devotion, public worship, and spiritual awakening in the coming times. He said that listening to the “Naam” (devotional hymns) during prayer meetings transports devotees to the 500-year-old era of Sankardeva and strengthens the cultural continuity of Assam. Amit Shah recalled that he had performed the groundbreaking ceremony for this project on December 26, 2020, and expressed his satisfaction and pride at being able to inaugurate it now. He said that Sankardeva, through his ideas, conveyed a message of cultural unity not only in Assam but throughout the entire Northeast and strengthened the spirit of “One India.”
Attack on Congress, accused of promoting illegal settlements
In his speech, Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of promoting illegal settlements in Assam. He said, “The Congress even provided legal assistance to settle illegal infiltrators here.” Shah cited figures, stating that the Congress-led UPA government spent approximately Rs 1.28 lakh crore on Assam in 10 years, while the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested nearly Rs 15 lakh crore in Assam. He also said that Assam was once known for bomb blasts and violence, but during the Modi government’s tenure, following the Bodo, Karbi, and other peace agreements, the region now resonates with devotional songs and prayers.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Statement and Future Resolve
On this occasion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma began his address with a recitation of Namghosha and declared the day sacred for Assam. He said that the people had entrusted the BJP government with the responsibility of freeing Batadrava Than from encroachment and developing the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva. The Chief Minister clarified that no fee would be charged to people for darshan (visiting the shrine). He stated that development is meaningless unless the community’s identity is protected. Sarma claimed that so far, Sattra land, VGR, PGR, and approximately 1.45 lakh bighas of land have been freed from encroachment, although more work remains to be done. He pledged that those who do not respect Assam’s cultural traditions and the values of its gurus will not be allowed to settle peacefully in the state.
