GUWAHATI/SILCHAR: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday said the next BJP government in the state will enact laws to confront the “menace of love jihad and land jihad” to strengthen Assamese culture and civilization.
Campaigning for the second phase of election at Jagiraod and Kamalpur, Shah accused the previous Congress government of patronizing infiltrators brought with AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal’s support. He said the infiltrators encroached land of ‘sattras’ (Vaishnavite monasteries), other places of worship and also Kaziranga National Park.
“This ‘land jihad’ must stop. Badruddin Ajmal indulged these infiltrators in order to change Assam’s identity and civilisation. He may be Congress’s identity but not that of Assam. Give BJP the mandate for another five years and we will ensure that this land jihad ends,” he added.
Many state BJP leaders have alleged that Hindus were being forced to sell off their land in Muslim-majority areas because of harassment which they call “land jihad”. BJP’s manifesto, which was released a few days ago, also promised laws against “love and land jihad.”
Shah also accused former PM Manmohan Singh, who represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha, of not solving the state’s problems. Shah said Singh failed to ensure payment of oil and gas royalty of Rs 8,000 crore which Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately released after assuming power in 2014.
In separate rallies at Silchar and Patharkandi assembly constituencies in the Barak Valley, Shah attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that Congress and its ally, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), would never allow Assam to be liberated from infiltrators.
“If Badruddin Ajmal forms the government here, will it be able to stop the infiltrators in the state ?” questioned Shah. He said only the BJP government will be able to stop the infiltrators. Shah even compared Ajmal as Mughal general Kalapahar.
“Five years ago, when BJP had promised that it would make Assam free from agitation and militancy as well, the then chief minister Tarun Gogoi mocked us saying that has BJP got magic stick in its hands? Now, I shouldn’t target Gogoi as he is no more. But I want to ask Rahul baba (Gandhi) to review our performances,” said Shah. The Union home minister further added, “In the last five years, PM Modi has done a lot for the development of Assam. He has given Rs 53,000 crore for road construction and infrastructural development in Assam.”