Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack, marking the seventh anniversary by saying “the world has seen how India punished the perpetrators,” and pointing to Operation Sindoor as evidence of India’s strength.Addressing BJP workers, Modi said, “Today’s Bharat is not only strengthening its borders, but also responding to the country’s enemies by entering their homes. The entire world has seen how India punished the terrorists after this terrorist attack. Some people are still trembling. You have also seen this power of India in Operation Sindoor…”
He contrasted this with past governments, launching a sharp attack on Congress. “Did we ever expect Congress to have the courage to take decisions for the country’s interest? They can at most make statements, they cannot do anything,” he said. Modi accused Congress of refusing to acknowledge Mother India, neglecting national security, and leaving the northeast in fear. “During Congress’s tenure, whenever weapons were purchased for the military, it meant a scam worth thousands of crores,” he charged.Modi said the the northeast, once synonymous with insecurity, is now witnessing rapid development. “India is building magnificent highways, tunnels, high-rise bridges, and modern airfields on its borders. It is enhancing the nation’s security, and that is why Congress is bewildered. They are wondering how Modi manages to do all this,” he declared.He also accused Congress of indulging in polarisation and vote-bank politics. “The partition of the country took place due to the Muslim League, but now there is ‘MMC’ – Maoist, Muslim League, Congress – and people should be aware,” Modi said. He alleged that Congress protected infiltrators, while asserting that BJP is committed to ending illegal immigration, making the next five years crucial for Assam.Modi claimed that Congress, out of power in Assam for a decade, is “more dangerous than when it was in power,” pointing to what he called “venomous statements” from its leaders. He contrasted Congress’s record of building only three bridges over the Brahmaputra in seven decades with BJP’s construction of five bridges in just 10 years.The PM said Assam is witnessing all-round development under BJP, citing the Tata group’s semiconductor plant at Jagiroad as a symbol of the state’s global ambitions beyond tea. He noted that more than 125 people from the Northeast have received Padma awards since 2014.Modi urged BJP workers to continue engaging with people even after elections, calling them the “oxygen of the party.” He assured that the love shown to the BJP would be returned “with interest through development.” He also paid tribute to former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha, who passed away last month, praising his lifelong devotion to Assam and the party.
