'In New India, red eyes of terrorists will be pulled out'

GUWAHATI: Assam health and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'New India', Pakistan-sponsored terrorists will not be allowed to cast their 'red eyes' on the country.

"In Modi's vision of New India, if terrorists show their red eyes to India, their eyes will be pulled out. You have all seen how after the Pulwama attack on our CRPF jawans, our Air Force bombed Pakistan. This could happen because of Modiji's resoluteness in taking on terrorism with firm hands. This is the vision of new India and we all have to stand by Modiji for accomplishing the vision of new India," Sarma said at a public meeting in Sadiya on Monday.

At Sadiya, which falls under the Lakhimpur parliamentary constituency, Sarma laid the foundation for the second bridge over the Kundil river.

Sarma said Modi's vision of new India also includes providing inclusive development involving all sections of society. "In Modiji's new India, no woman will have to use firewood for cooking and no village or household will be left without electricity. We have to take his commitments forward," Sarma said.

Sarma, who is also the convener of North East Democratic Alliance, said there were terror attacks on the country prior to Modi becoming the PM. "But what happened after the Pulwama attack didn't happen in the past. Our Army and Air Force had the strength and capability to give an appropriate response to the past terror strikes. But that did not happen because our Army or Air Force did not get the approval then," said Sarma.

The minister added, "Irrespective of people voting for us, we want to find a place in people's hearts through our development agenda which is for inclusive progress. During Congress's rule, they used to provide free yarns to people before elections. But you see how different we are from Congress when we decided to provide gold when girls get married. By providing gold, we are ensuring that the marriage is registered. By registering the marriages, we are fighting against child marriages by ensuring no girl below 18 gets married," Sarma argued.

On Sunday, at a rally in Kamrup and Nagaon districts, Sarma said Modi has to be voted as PM again to prevent Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks on India.