Congress "Dangerous", Vote For Viksit Assam: PM's Big Pitch Ahead Of Polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on the Congress today pointing to their attempt to pass a "communal violence law" before the 2014 general elections. The party has become "dangerous" for the people of Assam, he said in his first election rally in Assam, due on April 9. The party has already intensified its campaign across the state. 

Addressing the rally at Gogamukh in Assam's Dhemaji, PM Modi criticised the Congress for trying to bring the anti-Communal Violence bill 2014.

"Before the 2014 elections, the Congress-led central government tried to enact a Communal Violence Law to appease its fixed vote bank. The majority community was held responsible for riots, and religious minorities were presumed victims. This Bill was communal in itself. So the BJP-NDA did not allow it to pass. Now, 12 years later, the Assam Congress is announcing a similar law. It is crystal clear that Congress will do anything to gain power," PM Modi said.

The Opposition party's chief aim is to appease its vote bank. The bill had the majority communities responsible for communal riots. According to that bill religious minorities were treated as victims always," he added.

The BJP, which ruled Assam for two straight terms, is now aiming for a third. The party is focussing not just on the religious identity issue but also development at a pace that would make Viksit Bharat (Developed India) possible by building a "Viksit Assam". "This time election is to be make Viksit Bharat (Developed India). The BJP will form the government again in Assam and make a hat-trick," he added.

Underscoring the BJP's development agenda, PM Modi said in the last 69 years, the Congress made only three bridges in Assam over Brahmaputra. 

"Our government in last 10 years made five major bridges over Brahmaputra. Assam got six medical colleges under six decades Congress rule and now the state has 14 medical colleges. We are also working on 10 new medical colleges in Assam," PM Modi said.

"Very soon Assam will have the country's first under-water road, a railway tunnel under the Brahmaputra. We are trying to solve some of the major issues of Assam like floods and erosion.. We have changed the face of petro-chemical sector of Assam. There are lot of success happening," he said.

In another election rally at Behali in Biswanath, PM Modi said over the last ten years, the BJP has done remarkable work for women's empowerment. He stressed BJP initiatives to safeguard the dignity, safety, and rights of women, citing the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Assam and measures to protect tribal traditions and the Sixth Schedule areas. 

Congress leader Pawan Khera, meanwhile, slammed the BJP government for hiking the price of commercial LPG in the middle of elections. 

"A man who has been in power for 12 years... in Assam, the BJP have been in power for 10 years but still they are talking about Congress. they have nothing new to talk about. It is true Congress does not have resources BJP has but people of Assam are fed up of the Bunty-Babli government," Khera said.

"After polls petrol, diesel and all essential commodity prices will go up. In the last manifesto BJP didn't fulfil promises, this time as well they won't fulfil promises," Khera added.