Assam polls 2021: Amit Shah slams Cong-AIUDF over influx, 'vote-bank politics'

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GUWAHATI:

Union home minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Opposition Congress and Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), alleging that the two parties “cannot protect Assam’s culture and civilisation but will instead encourage influx”.

Addressing a programme at the Sankardev Kalakshetra on Monday evening, Shah said the saffron party has relentlessly worked to protect Assam’s culture and build a culturally united Assam.

“Only the BJP can protect Assam’s culture and civilization… so we seek your votes to help vote BJP to power again. We have in the past five years made Assam influx-free, militancy-free and paved the way for development which Congress has failed in 60 years… Give us another five years, we will make Assam flood-free… our ambition is to build a strong Assam,” he said.

The BJP leader also launched the party’s social media campaign, ‘Selfie with Development’, for the party’s benefit.

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“The onus is on our cyber yoddhas, advocates and prominent citizens to protect Assam’s future and take the significance of the party’s mission to fulfil Assam’s dreams to the people of the state,” Shah said.

Shah further slammed the Opposition by asking, “Can Congress-AIUDF fulfil Srimanta Sankardev’s dreams; can it honour Bhupen Hazarika or Lachit Barphukan’s achievements… so Assam’s electorate has to determine who will accomplish Sankardev’s and Madhabdev’s dreams.”

“The Congress talks about secularism but its brand of secularism is unique and difficult to understand… Congress has allowed influx to go unchecked only to build its vote bank...it has allowed encroachment in satra (Vaishnavite temple) lands,” he said.

“Congress has only believed in dynastic politics and divide-and-rule policy. It has divided the Assamese and Bangla-speaking people of the state, divided the people of plains and hills, etc. But thanks to the mandate of the electorate in 2016, the BJP came to power and removed all such politics and policies. BJP has ironed out all differences to pave way for peace and harmony,” he asserted.

Shah also interacted with youths from places like Nalbari and Silchar on steps taken to stop the migration of youths of Assam to other states, industrialisation and imbibe the “Atma-Nirbhar” culture among them.

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)