LAKHIMPUR, (CNI): Stating that China cannot capture “an inch” of land under the Narendra Modi government, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that people will never forget that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. How Lal Nehru Said “Goodbye” To Him Assam and Arunachal Pradesh during the 1962 Chinese aggression.
Addressing an election rally in Assam’s Lakhimpur, he said the BJP-led government at the Center had secured the country’s border with Bangladesh and stopped infiltration.
“During the Chinese aggression of 1962, Jawaharlal Nehru said ‘goodbye’ to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh the people of these states can never forget it,” Shah said.
“But what has changed now that under Narendra Modi government, China could not occupy even an inch of our land. In Doklam, we stood against them for 45 days and forced them to retreat,” he added.
Shah claimed that Assam’s border with Bangladesh was previously “open to infiltration”.
“Then the Modi government came to power at the Centre, and there was Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government. Now we can say that infiltration has stopped,” he said.
Taking a jibe at the Congress, he said, “A few days ago I saw Rahul Gandhi saying that he has come here to save the culture of Assam. I want to ask, what have you done for Assam? Your Injustice is happening since the days of Dadi. What has been done to Assam. Hundreds of youths have lost their lives.
Referring to the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA from 80 percent of the state’s areas, he said peace accords had been signed with various militant outfits and 9,000 youths had surrendered in the last 10 years.(CNI) Current News of India
“They signed the (Assam) Accord but did not fulfil the clauses. We signed the Bodo Accord and within two years, all clauses were fulfilled,” Shah said.
He said that it was under Sarma’s government that rhino poaching stopped, encroachers of Kaziranga National Park were cleared and Satra (Vaishnavite monastery) land was freed of encroachment.
Shah also accused the Congress of not giving due recognition to the state’s icons, be it Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, first CM Gopinath Bordoloi, or music maestro Bhupen Hazarika.
Criticising the Congress manifesto, he claimed that it favoured the Muslim personal law.
“Himanta Biswa Sarma has stopped child marriages. In Uttarakhand, there is the UCC,” he said, drawing a comparison with the Congress manifesto.
Questioning Congress’s support for Article 370, he said the entire country considers Kashmir an integral part of India.
Shah alleged that the Congress was responsible for the delay in the construction of the Ram temple, and asserted that it was the decisiveness of the Modi government which ensured that the temple was built in its tenure.
He said the development of the Northeast is central to the overall growth of the nation and urged the people to vote for the NDA candidates in all the seats of the region.
Shah said the Congress-led government had given Rs 1,62,000 crore to the state between 2004 and 2014, while during the BJP’s 10-year rule, Assam got Rs 4,15,000 crore.
“There are two alternatives before you — to vote for the Rahul Gandhi-led INDI Alliance, or vote for Modi-led BJP,” he said, urging people to ensure a third term for the NDA government at the Centre.(CNI)