Amit Shah says development in Assam is not possible without peace, hails the surrender of 1040 militants

Addressing a public rally ‘Unity, Peace and Development Rally’ at Dengaon in Karbi Anglong district, the Union Home Minister said that, due to the efforts of central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government led by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal peace has come back to the state as several militant groups have surrendered arms and come back to mainstream.

Referring to the arms laid down by 1040 militants of five militant groups from Karbi Anglong a few days ago in front of the Assam Chief Minister, he said under BJP-led government the hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are rapidly progressing towards peace and prosperity while shunning the path of violence.

“Due to both central and state government’s dedicated efforts Bodo militant groups have surrendered arms along with signing of peace accord. During the time of previous Congress governments the hill districts of Assam were neglected and no substantial development took place there. Now during the tenure of BJP-led central and state governments, the hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao have moved rapidly towards development in all sectors such as education, power, roads, providing of houses etc. Without peace development cannot take place,” Amit Shah said.

Referring to implementation of schemes worth several crore rupees in Karbi Anglong, setting up of Diphu Medical College and plan for building a Cancer Hospital at Diphu, Shah assured other demands of Karbi people such as setting up a Law College, Model Degree College etc. in the district would also be fulfilled in a very short period of time.

He also said the BJP led central government has tremendous respect and goodwill towards people of Assam and he cited conferring of Bharat Ratna posthumously on Dr Bhupen Hazarika and conferring of posthumous Padma Bhushan on former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi as indicators of central government’s sincerity in fulfilling its commitments towards Assam.

The Union Home Minister hoped that the people of Assam would again bring the BJP-led government back to power in Assam.

Amit Shah announced that Assam would be made flood free within next five years.

“Earlier people of the state had to struggle for fulfilling their justified demands and now the BJP led governments at both centre and state are striving towards delivering services before people asking for them. I assure the people of the hill districts that the BJP-led state government would repay the love and affection shown by people of Karbi Anglong and make this region one of the most developed in the entire state,” Shah said.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the people of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong have proved that they want peace and development and he congratulated the 1040 members of five Karbi militant groups for deciding to lay down arms and join the mainstream society.

He also asserted that the state government has fulfilled its promise of terrorism free Assam following Prime Minister Modi’s motto of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikash, Sabka Viswas.

Thanking Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Shah for their visionary leadership which has ushered in a period of peace and prosperity in the state and said these underdeveloped hill districts of the state have received a tremendous push towards development during the present central government’s tenure.

He also urged the people of the hill districts to remain united for bringing about rapid development and he thanked CEM of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang for his initiatives for developing the Karbi hills region.

Minister of Health, Finance, Education etc. Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma also spoke at the programme and informed about various education institutes being set up at both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. He also announced that a state university and an engineering college would also be set up in Karbi Anglong soon. Karbi hills region had seen tremendous violence, bloodshed and struggle for fulfilling aspirations of the people in the past and under BJP led governments at both centre and state peace has come back to the region and a peace accord would also be signed soon to make Karbi Anglogn and West Karbi Anglong districts most peaceful and developed in the country.

CEM of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang also delivered his speech at the programme.

BJP national vice president Baijayant Jay Panda, state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, MP Horen Sing Bey, MLA Dr Numal Momin were also present in the rally.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)