Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Congress of planning to bring in a “dangerous communal law” in Assam if it is voted to power, even as he asserted that a third consecutive term for the BJP-led government in the state has been “confirmed” in next month’s Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing an election rally at Jogamukh in Dhemaji district, the Prime Minister urged voters to be wary of the Congress, alleging that the party was trying to revive legislation similar to the communal violence law proposed before 2014.
“Assam has witnessed good service and governance in the last 10 years since the BJP came to power. The hat-trick (of victories) has been confirmed this time. With your blessings I have become chief minister three times and the same will ensure formation of a BJP government in Assam for the third time. This will be a hat-trick of defeats for the Congress,” he said.
In an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi without naming him, Modi said: “This will be a triple loss for the Congress (in Assam) and a century of defeats for the so-called Congress prince.”
Modi claimed that Congress is preparing to introduce a law that unfairly targets the majority community.
The Prime Minister said that before the 2014 general elections, the Congress-led government at the Center had tried to introduce a law on communal violence to appease the “permanent vote bank”.
“This bill itself was communal in nature, which is why the BJP and our allies in the NDA opposed it and did not allow it to be enacted in Parliament. If this legislation had been enacted and if the Congress had returned to power (in 2014), it would have led to unimaginable exploitation of the majority population of the country… Now 12 years later, the Congress is planning to bring in a similar legislation in Assam and is making announcements about it,” he said.
Modi’s remarks came in response to the recent remarks of Assam Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, who promised to bring a strict law against hate speech if the party forms the government.
“We will bring such legislation which will lead to five-year imprisonment for anyone who indulges in hate speech against any particular religion or its followers, be it against Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs or Jains,” Gogoi said at an election meeting.
Modi accused the Congress Party of divisive politics, and said that the party “has become like the Muslim League,” which he said played a role in dividing the country.
“The same is being done by Congress at present. The party is openly supporting infiltration and infiltrators. Earlier, Congress allowed infiltrators to encroach on tribal and farmer lands and turn the indigenous people of Assam into a minority. We have seen this threat in many areas of the state. Now the party is opposing the current BJP government’s moves to evict these illegal settlers. The BJP and NDA government will protect the rights of tribals and farmers and remove illegal encroachments. Intruders from forests,” he said.
Highlighting the BJP’s Assam manifesto, which was released on Tuesday, Modi said the 31 promises contained in it will drive development, industrialization and social transformation in the state.
“You all know that whatever the BJP promises, it delivers. Earlier in the Congress rule, one only heard news of bombs, guns, riots and curfew. Our party’s double-engine government in the last 10 years has paved the way for lasting peace and thousands of youth (associated with insurgent groups) have given up arms. Now only news of development and confidence comes from Assam,” he said.
Referring to industrial development, Modi said the state’s identity expands beyond tea production.
“Now Assam will be famous for tea and potato chips. This is the roadmap that the BJP has set for Assam. I assure you that once the BJP government is formed (for the third time), the state will progress much faster. This is Modi’s guarantee,” the Prime Minister added.
