Silchar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday highlighted the development initiatives undertaken in Assam under the Bharatiya Janata Party government, asserting that the progress achieved over the past decade surpassed what the Congress accomplished in five decades.

Speaking at a public rally in Silchar, Shah pointed to improvements in infrastructure, claiming that the state has seen rapid expansion of roads and bridges in recent years. He said that over the past five years, an average of 14 kilometres of roads were constructed daily, alongside the completion of numerous bridges, including four major ones.

Taking aim at the Indian National Congress, Shah alleged that previous administrations failed to prioritise Assam’s growth and neglected border security concerns. He accused earlier governments of allowing unchecked infiltration, which he said adversely affected the rights, employment opportunities and land ownership of local residents.

According to Shah, the BJP government initially focused on curbing infiltration during its first term and later intensified efforts to reclaim land allegedly occupied illegally. He credited Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with leading drives to clear large tracts of land and strengthen border management.

With state elections approaching, Shah urged voters to grant the BJP another mandate, promising stricter action against illegal entrants and continued development efforts.

The Home Minister also contrasted central investment figures under different governments. He stated that between 2004 and 2014, the Congress-led Centre allocated ₹1.28 lakh crore for Assam’s development, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has invested ₹15 lakh crore over the past ten years.

Highlighting sectoral growth, Shah described Assam as emerging as a healthcare hub in the Northeast and noted the establishment of a semiconductor plant worth ₹27,000 crore in the state. He added that initiatives such as the Vibrant Village programme would further accelerate Assam’s progress toward becoming a developed state.

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Assam is expected to hold assembly elections in the first half of the year, with political parties intensifying their campaigns across the state.