Prime minister Narendra Modi on April 1 said that the Congress-led grand alliance was shown the “red card” by the people of Assam in the first phase of polling on March 27.
Addressing an election rally in Kokrajhar, PM Modi said the Congress must be punished for forging an alliance with an “inimical force”. Modi was referring to Congress party’s alliance with several parties, including Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) for the Assam assembly elections.
“People of Assam in the first phase of elections like in a football match showed the ‘red card’ to the Congress-led ‘Mahajot’ (grand alliance) and gave their ‘mohar’ (stamp) for the double-engine government for a second time,” he said.
“The prospects in today’s election scenario were also very encouraging,” he said, while referring to the polling in the second phase of the elections for 39 seats on April 1.
Terming the 10-party ‘Mahajot’ as ‘Mahajhooth’ (grand lie), Modi said the Congress has betrayed all ethnic communities in Assam and during their rule, “bomb, bandook (guns) and blockade raj” was the order of the day.
“We would never allow them to loot the hard-earned peace in Assam. Congress has joined a party that is certain to destroy Assam’s identity,” he said.
The prime minister added that after a long time, peace has been restored in Assam and development was underway at a rapid speed.
“For those extremists who have shunned the path of violence and surrendered, the government would do everything as promised. Congress’ misgovernance led to the violence and unrest besides backwardness in the Bodoland areas,” he said.
Detailing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s developmental initiatives in Assam, the prime minister said: “A medical college, university, engineering institutes, and various other establishments are being set up in Kokrajhar. A package of Rs 1,500 crore has also been provided for development.”
The third and final phase of polling in Assam will be held on April 6. Counting of votes will be held on May 2.
