PM Modi invokes Shankardev-Madhavdev?s legacy in Assam

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the legacy of Mohapurus Shrimanta Shankardev and Sri Madhavdev, while addressing a mega poll rally at Bihpuria on Wednesday in support of candidates belonging to Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and its political allies for the State legislative assembly elections.

Bowing down to the land blessed by both the Vaishnavite Gurus, in his speech, Modi commented that the incumbent BJP government in Dispur has tackled many problems including the Satras and Namghars, which were encroached by suspected nationals during the Congress rule, being made encroachment-free.

Raising the issue of illegal immigrants (arriving from Bangladesh) Modi blamed the previous Congress for the burning problem. He criticised the grand old party for forming an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

“The Congress party has joined hands with people whose aim is to destroy Assam’s identity. Do you want Assam’s traditions to be ruined,’ stated Modi added that Congress leaders are taking help from a group that promotes infiltrators. He also termed the Congress Mohajoat (grand alliance) as Mohajuth (great lie). In another rally at Sipajhar, Modi mentioned about the welfare activities taken by the incumbent BJP led government in Dispur saying that poor people in every region of the State have now LPG gas connections. LPG coverage in Assam has increased from under 50% to nearly 100% in just 5 years, he said.

In 70 years, Assam saw the development of just 13,000 km of roads in the State, but within the last five years, it witnesses nearly 15,000 km of rural roads. In five years, the government has built 8 medical colleges in Assam which would provide better medical cares and also opportunities to the youth studying medicine.

BJP’s ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) released the election manifesto promising to implement various clauses of Assam Accord sincerely. The regional political party also pledged to take steps to mitigate the flood problem, resolve border disputes with the neighbouring States. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed that no

political party or candidate or any other organization or person shall publish any advertisement in the print media on poll day or one day prior to poll day in all the phases, unless the contents of political advertisements are pre-certified by the media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC)..

In the context of Assam, the restricted days of advertisement are 26 & 27 March for the first phase, 31 March & 1 April for the second phase and 5 & 6 April for the third (also last) phase, said an ECI statement adding that the direction is meant for all political parties, contesting candidates and newspapers for general information and strict compliance.

A total of 2,33,74,087 general electors (out of over 30 million population in Assam) are expecting to exercise their franchises in the polls where 1,15,50,403 are females and 398 transgenders including 63,074 service voters. In the first phase, 81,09,815 voters will take part in the electoral process, whereas 73,44,631 in the second and 79,19,641 electorates in the final phase of polling.