Amit Shah Pledges to Transform Assam into a Flood-Free State Within Five Years
Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a significant commitment on Friday, promising to make Assam "flood-free" within five years if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returns to power in the 2026 assembly elections. He announced this ambitious goal while addressing a rally at Natanpur in Cachar district, Silchar, after launching the Centre's ₹6,839-crore Vibrant Villages Programme–II.
Shah Outlines BJP's Three-Phase Vision for Assam
In his speech, Shah outlined the BJP's phased approach to addressing Assam's challenges. "In the first term, we curbed infiltration. In the second term, we reclaimed vast tracts of encroached land. In the next five years, we will work to make Assam flood-free," he declared, positioning floods as the next major focus for the party in the state. This pledge comes as Assam faces recurring annual floods that affect lakhs of people, causing widespread devastation and displacement.
Sharp Criticism of Congress Over Border Policies
Shah launched a pointed attack on the Congress party, accusing previous governments of deliberately keeping Assam's borders open to facilitate illegal immigration. "Infiltrators usurped the jobs of Assam's youth, the food grains meant for the poor, and the land belonging to villages. Congress kept the borders open to infiltrators in a calculated move to change the state's demographic structure," he alleged, highlighting what he described as a strategic failure by the opposition.
Praise for Himanta Biswa Sarma Government and Deportation Promise
The Home Minister praised the BJP-led state government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, commending its efforts to free lakhs of acres of land from encroachers. He linked this to an election-related promise on deportation, stating, "Give our government another term and I promise you we will detect and deport every single infiltrator from Assam." This statement underscores the BJP's continued emphasis on security and demographic issues in the region.
Infrastructure Achievements and Development Claims
Shah contrasted the BJP's decade in power with Congress's five decades, claiming superior delivery on development. He cited infrastructure expansion as a key achievement, noting that under Sarma's leadership, Assam has seen unprecedented road construction. "In the last five years alone, 14 km of roads have been constructed every day in Assam — the highest rate of road construction in the country during that period. A total of 24,000 km of roads have been upgraded. Hundreds of bridges, including four major ones, have been built," he detailed.
Broader Development and Security Gains Under BJP Rule
Beyond infrastructure, Shah highlighted other areas of progress, asserting that Assam has become the healthcare hub of the northeast and is experiencing a new wave of industrialisation. He also claimed that insurgency has been effectively brought to an end under BJP governance, contributing to a more stable environment for growth.
Appeal to Voters for 2026 Elections
Urging voters to support the BJP in the 2026 assembly elections, Shah reiterated the party's commitment to tackling floods, a persistent crisis that impacts millions annually. His rally speech effectively set the stage for the upcoming electoral battle, framing the BJP as the party capable of delivering on both security and developmental fronts.
