Amit Shah Rallies in Assam, Contrasts BJP and Congress Rule

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took the campaign trail in Assam on Thursday, delivering a pointed critique of the Congress party while making the case for continued BJP rule at a well-attended election rally in Kaliabor, Nagaon district.

Shah was campaigning in support of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate Keshab Mahanta, as the NDA alliance stepped up its pre-election push across the state.

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Shah opened with a broad attack on Congress's governance record in the state, alleging that Assam lagged in development and suffered persistent instability under Congress rule.

He drew specific attention to Kaziranga National Park, claiming that unchecked encroachment during the Congress era had endangered wildlife and damaged the park's ecosystem. The BJP government, he said, later took decisive steps to evict encroachers and restore Kaziranga's global standing.

Comparing financial flows under the two regimes, Shah stated that Assam received Rs 1.28 lakh crore from the Centre between 2004 and 2014 under the Congress-led UPA government. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP-led government from 2014 to 2024, he said that figure rose to nearly Rs 9.78 lakh crore.

He also cited major infrastructure expansion across road, rail, and air connectivity as evidence of the BJP's developmental push, alongside policy initiatives aimed at boosting economic growth in the state.

On law and order, Shah highlighted what he described as a transformation in Assam's security landscape, pointing to over 20 peace accords signed in recent years that resulted in more than 10,000 militants surrendering.

He said this had paved the way for lasting stability in a state that had long been marked by insurgency and unrest.

On the sensitive issue of illegal infiltration, Shah reiterated the BJP's firm opposition to cross-border infiltration while emphasising that the party fully supports Assam's indigenous Muslim communities — drawing a clear distinction between the two.

Shah returned to Kaziranga as a symbol of the BJP's conservation record, crediting the NDA government for reviving the park's ecological balance and tourism appeal. He noted that the iconic one-horned rhinoceros continues to draw visitors from around the world.

He also highlighted national honours conferred upon prominent Assamese figures — including Gopinath Bordoloi, Bhupen Hazarika, and the recognition of Lachit Borphukan — as part of the Centre's effort to celebrate and preserve Assam's cultural legacy.

Taking an indirect swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had also been campaigning in the state on the same day, Shah questioned the party's governance credentials and urged voters to back the NDA for sustained peace, growth, and protection of Assam's identity.

He closed by asserting that the BJP had struck a balanced approach — prioritising both development and conservation in its handling of Assam's progress and natural heritage.