Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Indian National Congress, saying the country has consistently rejected the party’s “negative politics” which has failed to deliver a development agenda.
Addressing a public meeting in Nagaon, Prime Minister Modi said that the party has lost the trust of the people.
Referring to the recent local body elections in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, the Prime Minister said the election results show that voters want respect for heritage as well as good governance and development.
The Prime Minister said, “These elections send a different message. The country is continuously rejecting the negative politics of the Congress party. In a city like Mumbai, where the Congress was born, it has now become the fourth or fifth position party. In Maharashtra, where the Congress ruled for years, the party has completely shrunk. The Congress has lost the trust of the country because it has no agenda for development.”
He further said that BJP is emerging as the people’s choice across the country and cited electoral gains in Bihar and Kerala.
Prime Minister Modi said, “Today BJP has become the first choice of people across the country. The country’s trust in BJP has been continuously increasing for the last one to one and a half years.”
“The people of Kerala have given tremendous support to the BJP and for the first time a BJP mayor has been elected there. The BJP is in power in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala,” he said.
He also mentioned the record mandate received for Bihar and Maharashtra.
He further said, “Recently, elections were held in Bihar and even after 20 years, the people there voted for the BJP in record numbers and won record seats. Just two days ago, the results of mayor and councilor elections in major cities of Maharashtra were declared. The people there have given a record mandate to the BJP for the first time.”
Talking about the cultural vibrancy of Assam, Prime Minister Modi praised the Bagurumba Dwa dance program held in Guwahati yesterday.
He said, “Just yesterday I participated in the Bagurumba dance program in Guwahati. There the daughters of our Bodo community created a new record by performing Bagurumba. The energy of more than 10,000 artistes, the beat of the drum, the tune of the Siphung, that amazing performance of Bagurumba mesmerized everyone.”
He also appreciated the dedication of the artists. Prime Minister Modi said, “The experience of Bagurumba reached from the eyes to the heart. Our artists from Assam have really done an amazing job. Their hard work, their preparation, their coordination, everything was wonderful.”
The Prime Minister also congratulated social media influencers for spreading the culture of Assam globally.
He said, “Since yesterday, I see that this excellent dance of the Bodo tradition is trending on social media. I am confident that people across the country and the world will recognize the strength and power of India’s approach towards art and culture, and all the social media influencers who are promoting this work also deserve congratulations.”
Recalling his visit to Kaziranga, PM Modi said he always felt a special connection with Assam.
He said, “Today once again I have the privilege of visiting Kaziranga. At such moments, it seems natural to remember the previous trip. The moments spent in Kaziranga two years ago are among the most special experiences of my life. I got the opportunity to spend the night in Kaziranga National Park and the next day during the elephant safari, I experienced the beauty of this region very closely. Coming to Assam always gives me a unique pleasure.”
He also talked about the ongoing development projects in the state. Prime Minister Modi said, “A month ago, I visited the region to review various development projects. The popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati has been expanded, and I had the privilege of inaugurating its new terminal building. Additionally, I laid the foundation stone of the ammonia-urea complex at Namrup.”
According to him, these initiatives strengthen the philosophy of BJP. He further said, “All these initiatives reinforce the BJP’s guiding principle of ‘Development also, heritage also’.”
During the public meeting, PM Modi noticed that many people were carrying some of his sketches and photographs. He asked his team to collect them and promised that a letter would be sent to them if they wrote their address on the back of the drawings.
Earlier today, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project (4-laning of Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715) worth over Rs 6,950 crore at Kaliabor in Nagaon district.
The Prime Minister also flagged off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains, Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) Amrit Bharat Express.
The project will pass through Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts and will significantly improve connectivity to Upper Assam, especially Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.