Amit Shah in Assam: Give 5 more yrs to BJP and state will become flood-free, vows home minister

 
Speaking at another rally in Kokhrajar on the occasion of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord Day, Shah said that the accord, inked a year ago, has initiated the process of ending insurgency in the North East.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the process to end insurgency in the Northeast by signing the Bodo Peace Accord. Efforts were made for settlement for Bru-Reang issue and 700 members of eight armed groups laid down arms,” The Indian Express quoted Shah as saying.

The Union home minister distributed rehabilitation packages among a section of surrendered militants during the day.

"I have come here to iterate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are committed to fulfil all clauses of the BTR Accord, which will pave the way for peace and development in the region." Shah added.

“Peace has returned to Bodo areas due to the accord. There used to be killings and abductions here, but I can assure that in a few years, this region will become the most developed part of Assam,” Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

Shah further announced that Rs 500 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a road network in the Bodo region.

The BTR Accord, designed to usher in peace in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), was signed on 27 January last year by the Centre, the Assam government, all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland and the then Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary.

Attacking the Congress, Shah said that the grand old party had signed many agreements with different militant outfits in the past, but failed to keep the promises it made. The Congress, during its rule, could not quell violence and bring peace, "but it would not refrain from giving us advice", the senior BJP leader said.

"The presence of all communities in today's rally is a befitting reply to the ones who had indulged in violence and bloodshed in the Bodo areas as the people here have proved that they are all children of Mother India," Shah insisted.

Shah said the political rights, culture and language of all communities of Assam are secure under the BJP government.

"The prime minister was in Assam on Saturday, and he distributed land pattas (certificates) to more than one lakh indigenous people. The state government has already made Bodo the associate language of Assam. Several measures have been taken to protect, preserve and promote the rich culture, language and heritage of all communities of the state," the Union minister said.

According to a report by NDTV, Shah claimed that the BJP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) win in the BTC elections last December "is a trailer (to the) Assam polls."

"Now that the United Peoples' Party Liberal (UPPL) has become a part of NDA, we are sure that we will win the Assam Assembly polls with a thumping majority. The BTC polls were a trailer... I have come to appeal to you that just as we were made victorious during the semi-final, we must be triumphant in the final too," PTI quotes him as saying.

Only the BJP, under the leadership of Modi, can make Assam corruption-free, terrorism-free and pollution-free, Shah further stated.

Listing the steps taken so far in accordance with the Bodo accord clauses, the Union minister said a committee has been formed to survey tribal-dominated areas, and the number of seats in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) has been increased to 60. A Bodo kachari welfare council has also been constituted for the benefit of people from the community who do not live anywhere near BTR, he said.

According to the NDTV report, Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the state, did not say anything about the Citizenship Amendment Act, even as activists of the All Assam Students' Union  (AASU) burnt copies of the CAA as part of its protests across the state against Shah and Modi's visit.