‘Modi’s visit could boost BJP workers’ morale’

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Assam next week to inaugurate the Guwahati-North Guwahati ropeway and lay the foundation stone of AIIMS centre at Changsari in Kamrup district. BJP sources said that the Prime Minister is also likely to address a public function at Changsari, kicking off the saffron party’s poll campaigns in the Brahmaputra Valley which has been on the boil due to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the PM’s office is yet to finalize the date of Modi’s visit. “The visit could be on February 8 or 9. So far, we know that PM will be on a two-day visit to the northeast soon,” Sarma added.

On the possibility of Modi attending the Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha convention in Morigaon, Sarma said that talks between state government, Sangha and PMO have been on for the last two months. “But the state government has no information on whether PM will attend the convention,” he added.

“We all are looking forward to the PM’s visit as it would come as a big morale boost at a time when our workers are facing the ire of anti-bill protesters. But even when protests are on the rise, BJP has demonstrated its popularity among the people by winning a series of local body elections. The PM’s visit will give a fresh momentum to our workers ahead of the Lok Sabha polls,” a BJP leader said.

The leader added that BJP president Amit Shah is also likely to visit the state soon.