‘Beware of Congress, it is planning to bring a dangerous law in Assam’: PM Modi

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Congress of planning to bring a “dangerous communal law” in Assam if voted to power, even as he asserted that a third consecutive term for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state was “confirmed” in next month’s assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves a 'gamcha' during a rally in Gogamukh, Assam, on Tuesday. (X)Addressing an election rally in Gogamukh in Dhemaji district, the prime minister urged voters to be cautious of the Congress, alleging that the party was attempting to revive legislation similar to a proposed communal violence law from before 2014. “Assam has seen service and good governance in the past 10 years since BJP has been in power. A hat-trick (of wins) is confirmed this time. It is with your blessings that I became a prime minister thrice and the same will ensure that a BJP government is formed in Assam for the third time. And it will be a hat-trick of defeats for Congress,” he said. In an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi without naming him, Modi said, “It will be a hat-trick of losses for Congress (in Assam) and a century of defeats for Congress’s so-called prince.” Modi alleged that the Congress was preparing to introduce a law that would unfairly target the majority community. The prime minister said that before the 2014 general elections, the Congress-led government at the Centre had attempted to bring a communal violence law to appease its “permanent vote bank”. “This Bill itself was communal in nature and that’s why BJP and our NDA allies opposed it and didn’t allow its enactment in Parliament. If this legislation was enacted and if Congress had returned to power (in 2014), then it would have resulted in unimaginable exploitation of the country’s majority population… Now after 12 years, the Congress is planning a similar legislation in Assam and making announcements about it,” he said. Modi’s remarks came in response to recent statements by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, who had promised a stringent law against hate speech if the party forms the government. “We will bring such a legislation which will lead to five years imprisonment of anyone indulging in hate speech against any particular religion or its followers, be it against Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs or Jains,” Gogoi had said at an election meeting. Accusing the Congress of divisive politics, Modi said the party had “become like the Muslim League”, which he said had played a role in the country’s partition. “The same thing is being done by Congress at present. The party is openly supporting infiltration and infiltrators. Earlier Congress allowed infiltrators to encroach lands of tribals and farmers and turn the indigenous population of Assam into a minority. We have seen this threat in many districts of the state. Now the party is opposing the present BJP government’s moves to evict these illegal settlers. The government of BJP and NDA will protect the rights of tribals, farmers and remove encroachments by illegal infiltrators from the forests,” he said. Highlighting the BJP’s manifesto for Assam, released on Tuesday, Modi said the 31 promises outlined in it would drive development, industrialisation and social transformation in the state. “You all know that whatever BJP promises, it delivers. Earlier during the Congress rule, one used to hear only news of bombs, guns, riots and curfews. The double-engine government of our party has in the past 10 years paved the road for permanent peace and thousands of youths (associated with rebel groups) have given up arms. Now only news of development and trust comes from Assam,” he said. Referring to industrial development, Modi said the state’s identity was expanding beyond tea production. “Now Assam will be known both for ‘chai’ (tea) and chips. This is the BJP roadmap for Assam. I assure you that once the BJP government is formed (for the third time), the state will progress even more rapidly. This is Modi’s guarantee,” the PM added. Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times.Read More