Rangapara (Assam), March 27 (IANS): A strong wind blowing across Assam is all set to uproot the ruling Congress in the forthcoming assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday and appealed to people for a decisive mandate in favour of the BJP.
He was addressing a public rally at Rangapara, located on the north bank of the Branhmaputra river, in Assam's Sonitpur district.
The two-phase assembly polls in Assam's 126 constituencies are scheduled to take place on April 4 and April 11.
"Today my programme was at 10 a.m. and I was wondering how the people will come so early? There are no roads also here. But I am happy to see such a large gathering... I assure you that I'll return this love of yours with interest by doing development works," Modi told people at the rally.
"...this time, I can see that there is a strong wind of change blowing here, which will uproot the Congress. The bad governance of 15 years will end and there will be a new sunrise of development," he said.
Targetting the Congress party for the problems of people in Assam, Modi appealed for a decisive mandate.
"When you press the button on April 4 and April 11, keep in your mind the Congress' misrule of 60 years. The reason behind your problems is only these people (Congress). Press the button in such a way that BJP and its allies get absolute majority. Never give an indecisive mandate, otherwise your future will be left insecure."
Modi said people of India gave a decisive mandate to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2014 Lok sabha polls. And now India is getting applauded worldwide.
"If you want to listen to the same applause for Assam, vote for absolute majority to BJP and its allies in the forthcoming polls."
Highlighting lack of development in Assam's northern region, Modi said: "This area is left out from development. In Assam, they spend money from state exchequer only in those assembly seats which they can win to form a government. They are not bothered about others. This is the reason why this area has remained left out from development."
Stating that there are over one crore people in Assam living below the poverty line, the prime minister said this poverty is a gift from those who have been in power for 60 years.
"We want to change Assam. Education for children, income for youth and medicine for elderly is our motto and this is alone enough to change the living standards of people of Assam," he said.
The prime minister said his dream is to provide a house to every poor man in the country by 2022.
"I know it's a big work but my country is also a big one. We sent money to Gogoiji for making houses for the poor. He assured me to work but you'll be shocked to know that only one-third of the amount given by Centre is utilised so far and the rest has been rotting in banks."
"If there is a will, change can be brought about. After our government came to power in Delhi, the Centre has spent so much money in eastern region of India for spreading the rail network which no government had spent after Independence," he said.
"I am happy that 510 km of broad gauge rail connectivity have been completed on north bank of Brahmaputra," Modi said, accusing Gogoi for betraying the people of Assam for 15 years.
On Saturday, Modi launched the BJP's campaign in the poll-bound Assam by addressing four public rallies and a citizens' meeting in four districts of the state.
Modi a good actor, people like to see his acting: Gogoi
Titabar, March 27 (IANS): Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused Tarun Gogoi of betraying the people of Assam for the last 15 years, the chief minister termed the BJP leader a "very good actor" and that people only love to see his acting but do not trust him.
"He (Modi) is definitely a very good actor. People love to see his acting and that's why they listen to him. But that does not mean people trust him," Gogoi said at a public rally in his home constituency of Titabar.
"Modi does not have the guts to fight against injustice done by the rich. He can only harass poor guys like Rohith Vemula and Kanhaiya Kumar. Who wears a suit worth Rs.15 lakh? I have never seen such a suit," he said.
Stating that his childhood has been spent in the tea gardens and villages of the area, Gogoi said: "I have seen the people of the remote areas very closely. I can feel their pain, pleasure, their expectations..."
"We have not seen such a prime minister who does nothing but spreads misinformation.
"He mocked me as an old man. But let me say that I might be aging, but I still hold the strength to work for the people of my state. Even if I attain hundred years, I will still hold the power to work as a 50-year-old leader. This is the same reason for which people of Assam, irrespective of men and women, caste and religion, are with me. The victory of the Congress in Assam is obvious and unstoppable," Gogoi said.
Modi, during his public rallies in Assam on Saturday and Sunday, said he respects Gogoi who will be turning 90 in the next couple of years.
"The BJP, which terms me an inefficient CM, awards me for development. A few months back, (Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, awarded me in a programme organised by India Today for remarkable achievement in the road and transport sector in the state.
"In a survey of India Today, it was also revealed that Assam, which was in the 19th position in terms of development among the states of India, has now proceeded to the seventh position.
"Likewise, the same BJP has awarded me for achievement in power sector in the state," he said.
Gogoi said he does not have "any personal enmity" with Modi.
"But I am against his false promises and injustice towards the state. My people have elected me to power to fight for the state. I have to raise my voice for my state and I have to protest if there is injustice," he said.
"Assam reels under floods every year. Last year, the state suffered twice. Hundreds died in the floods but the BJP-led government did not take up any initiative to solve the problem. They cut flood relief fund. Modi could not even take out time to visit the state and see the plight of the people," Gogoi said.
