Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a strong political attack on the Congress party ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, accusing it of serious lapses in border management and alleging that years of Congress rule allowed large-scale infiltration into the state. Speaking at a public programme in Assam’s Cachar district on Friday, Shah claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had taken decisive steps to curb illegal entry and restore security, while also accelerating development initiatives across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Shah asserted that infiltration had remained one of Assam’s most persistent challenges during earlier Congress administrations. He alleged that weak border control policies had enabled continuous illegal migration, which, according to him, affected employment opportunities for local youth, access to welfare resources for economically weaker sections, and land ownership patterns in rural areas. He further claimed that such developments had contributed to demographic changes in parts of the state.
Highlighting the BJP’s tenure in Assam, Shah credited the state government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, with significantly reducing infiltration after coming to power nearly a decade ago. He stated that during the party’s first five years in office, efforts were concentrated on strengthening border monitoring and preventing illegal entry. In the subsequent term, he said, the government focused on reclaiming large tracts of land allegedly occupied by infiltrators and removing encroachments. Shah argued that the progress achieved by the BJP over the past ten years exceeded what Congress governments had accomplished during several decades of rule.
Appealing to voters for a third consecutive mandate for the BJP in the upcoming elections, Shah promised that individuals who had entered Assam illegally during earlier regimes would be identified and deported in accordance with the law. His remarks formed part of a broader campaign narrative centred on national security and demographic protection.
During the visit, Shah also launched the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme from Cachar district. The initiative aims to strengthen infrastructure and public services in remote border regions and will be implemented across 15 states and two Union Territories. According to him, the second phase involves an allocation of Rs 6,900 crore and will cover 1,954 villages nationwide. In Assam, several border blocks adjoining Pakistan and Bangladesh are expected to benefit through improved connectivity, infrastructure development, and access to essential services.
Shah emphasised that the programme reflects a shift in government policy, describing border settlements not as isolated or neglected areas but as strategically important frontline communities. He noted that earlier these villages lagged behind in employment opportunities, electricity connectivity, education, and infrastructure, whereas current efforts aim to bring them on par with other parts of the country. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of treating border villages as the “first villages of India” rather than the last.
The Union Home Minister also highlighted broader development claims under BJP governance in Assam, stating that the state has witnessed significant improvements in law and order, with incidents of bomb blasts declining sharply. He added that infrastructure expansion has accelerated, with road construction reportedly progressing at a rate of about 14 kilometres per day, which he described as the highest in the country. Shah further said that the government is working toward making Assam flood-free within the next five years through ongoing infrastructure and water management projects.
His visit comes as political campaigning intensifies ahead of the Assembly elections, with the BJP positioning border security, infrastructure growth, and development initiatives as central themes in its effort to secure another term in power.
