BJP has geared up to prepare for the Assam assembly elections. In this connection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a tour of Assam. During his visit, he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several new development projects. Addressing the public in Silchar, PM Modi also launched a scathing attack on the Congress party.
PM Modi arrived in Assam to gift development projects worth more than ₹47,600 crore to the state. While performing the *Bhoomi Pujan* (foundation stone laying ceremony) in Silchar, he laid the foundation stone of several projects, the total cost of which is around ₹24,000 crore. These include the Northeast’s first greenfield 4-lane high-speed Shillong-Silchar corridor and the ‘Assam Mala 3.0’ project. Highlighting the bonanza of these projects worth around ₹24,000 crore, he took a sharp dig at the Congress.
PM Modi said, “Today, the *bhoomi pujan* of the Shillong-Silchar corridor—which costs approximately ₹24,000 crore—has taken place. If you hand over pen and paper to Congress members and ask them to write ‘24,000 crore’, they will not even know how many zeros have to be inserted to write this figure.” The Prime Minister further said, “Our work begins exactly where the thinking power of the members of the Congress responds.” PM Modi commented, “Congress is on the verge of creating a ‘century’ of electoral defeats in its own history. In frustration of these defeats, Congress has opened a front against the country itself. Congress leaders have thrown themselves into the task of defaming the country.”
‘Northeast: The center of India’s ‘Act East Policy’…’
PM Modi asserted, “Today, the Northeast has emerged as the center of India’s ‘Act East Policy’… It is emerging as a bridge connecting India with South-East Asia. The farmers of Barak Valley and the laborers working in the tea gardens of this region have contributed tremendously to the development of Assam. The ‘double engine’ government is continuously taking steps to ensure the welfare of the farmers.” He further said that BJP considers the villages situated on the borders as the “first villages” of the country. As a result, the next phase of the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’—aimed at the development of border areas—was launched from Cachar district itself. This initiative ensures that many villages in the Barak Valley will also see considerable improvement.
Foundation stone of many projects was laid
PM Modi will also release the 22nd installment of PM-KISAN scheme in Assam, which will benefit 9.3 crore farmers. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Kopili Hydroelectric Project and the North-East Gas Grid (Phase-1). In the railway sector, three new trains will be flagged off. Additionally, a ‘PM Ekta Mall’ will be inaugurated in Guwahati, which will promote local handicrafts and the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) initiative.
