TEZPUR: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday slammed the Congress at a poll rally in Assam, accusing it of having "abused" the talent and capabilities of the state's youths and urged people to never forgive the party.
Alleging that the Congress was only concerned about Bangladeshi infiltrators, he claimed the grand old party had meted out "step-motherly" treatment towards Assam during their rule.
Addressing an election rally here in support of sitting MLA and ally AGP's Tezpur candidate Prithiraj Rava, the senior BJP leader said, "The Congress has always abused the Assamese youths, their talent and capabilities. They should not be forgiven."
"The only concern of the Congress is Bangladeshi infiltrators for its vote bank. Politics should not be done only for government formation; politics should be done for nation-building," Singh said.
He claimed that due to illegal immigration from Bangladesh, the population balance in a few districts of Assam has been distorted.
"During Congress rule, Delhi kept Assam at a distance. Since Independence, Congress has abused Assam's rights," Singh alleged.
"Insurgency, poverty and starvation dominated the news in Assam under the Congress government. But it changed after the BJP came to power," he asserted.
"Assam is at the centre of development, and it is the northeast's development engine. India's development gains pace if Assam progresses," Singh added.
He claimed that more than 7,500 extremists have laid down their arms in Assam to join the mainstream under the BJP's rule.
"The BJP eliminated corruption and did justice to tea garden workers by giving land rights. Nobody can stop NDA from getting two-thirds majority in Assam," the defence minister said.
He said that the Congress used to call border villages 'last village of India', while the BJP has termed those the country's first villages, showing a difference in the outlook.
"Earlier, India was not taken seriously on the global stage, but now everyone listens when India speaks. Only the BJP can keep India's head high," Singh asserted.
