metro india news  I Mangaldai/Guwahati

In a series of electrifying addresses across Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unleashed a blistering attack on the opposition, particularly the Congress, accusing them of turning illegal immigrants into vote banks while his government stands as an unyielding bulwark against demographic threats.

Delivering speeches in Darrang district's Mangaldai and later in Golaghat, Modi threw down the gauntlet: "Stop me if you can from protecting Assam's sons and daughters." The rallies, attended by thousands braving intermittent rains, underscored the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) aggressive push ahead of key state elections, blending sharp political rhetoric with announcements of development projects worth over Rs 19,000 crore.

Modi's visit to Assam, the second day of a whirlwind Northeast tour, was marked by a palpable sense of urgency on the infiltration issue—a perennial flashpoint in the state's border regions. Speaking to a sea of tricolour-waving supporters in Mangaldai, the Prime Minister declared, "The BJP's mission is clear: We will save the country from infiltrators and free it from their clutches."

He painted a stark picture of a "conspiracy to alter Assam's demography," alleging that unchecked influxes from across the border had encroached on indigenous lands, temples, and the rights of local farmers and tribals. "Illegal immigrants are snatching away the future of our youth, grabbing waqf properties, and turning our sacred spaces into vote farms," Modi thundered, his voice rising over the chants of "Modi! Modi!"

The Prime Minister reserved his sharpest barbs for the Congress, claiming their rule had been a "golden era for infiltrators." Recalling historical grievances, Modi accused the grand old party of deliberately facilitating illegal migration for electoral gains. "Whenever Congress was in power in Assam, they not only handed over lands to infiltrators but also shielded illegal encroachments on farmers' fields and places of worship," he said, drawing thunderous applause.

He contrasted this with the BJP's "Mission Basundhara," the state government's initiative to reclaim encroached lands and restore them to rightful owners. "Under our NDA government, we are correcting these wrongs. We've evicted thousands of illegal occupants and returned properties to the people. Congress cries foul now, but where were they when our daughters' futures were being stolen?"

In a dramatic escalation, Modi directly challenged the opposition leaders to halt his anti-infiltration drive. "I am stopping the illegals from flooding our borders and turning them into voters. You say you're the guardians of democracy—then come, stop me! Show the people of Assam how you'll protect their identity without selling it for votes."

His words echoed the Centre's recently announced "high-powered demographic mission," a nationwide initiative to detect, deport, and deter infiltrators within a fixed timeframe. Modi reiterated its Assam-specific focus, warning that "no nation can tolerate intruders who change its soul." He linked this to broader national security, invoking the sacrifices of freedom fighters: "Our forefathers shed blood for an independent India. Allowing this demographic invasion would be the ultimate betrayal."

The speeches weren't just about confrontation; Modi wove in a narrative of empowerment and progress to rally the base. In Darrang, he laid the foundation stone for a 500-bed medical college and hospital, complete with a General Nursing and Midwifery school, hailing it as a "game-changer for healthcare in rural Assam." "In the last 11 years, we've revolutionized health services across India, including Assam.

This college will train thousands of doctors and nurses, ensuring no Assamese family travels miles for treatment," he said. Later in Golaghat, amid pouring rain, he inaugurated a bamboo-to-ethanol plant and a polypropylene unit at the Numaligarh Refinery, emphasizing self-reliance. "Assam is leading in Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This ethanol plant will benefit our tribal farmers, turning bamboo—our green gold—into energy and income. And the refinery expansion? It's fueling Make in Assam, Make in India."

Infrastructure took centre stage as Modi unveiled projects totaling Rs 18,530 crore, including the Guwahati Ring Road connecting Kamrup and Darrang districts to Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi, and a new bridge over the Brahmaputra. "North East's connectivity revolution is in full swing, and Assam is at its heart," he proclaimed. "From semiconductors to deepwater exploration, we're building an energy-secure India. Assam's role in this Viksit Bharat is unmatched." He praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his "unwavering commitment" to development, crediting the state government's eviction drives and land reforms for restoring "Assam's pride."

Modi's barbs extended to cultural insults allegedly hurled by the opposition. Referencing a video shown to him by Sarma the previous night, he slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for mocking the 2019 Bharat Ratna award to Assamese icon Bhupen Hazarika. "They called it a sad day when we honored our Sudhakantha—the voice of the Brahmaputra. Congress insults Assam's soul to appease their vote banks!" The Prime Minister released a commemorative Rs 100 coin and a biography titled Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika during his Guwahati stop, urging the youth to draw "lessons of humanity" from the bard's songs.

The opposition swiftly hit back, branding Modi's rhetoric as "divisive hate-mongering." Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate accused him of "stoking fears for electoral dividends," while Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah decried the "Bharat Ratna row" revival as a distraction from "real issues like floods and unemployment." Regional parties like the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) called the speeches "anti-Muslim dog-whistling," demanding an apology.

For Modi's supporters, the day was a clarion call. "He's our shield against the invaders," said Rajib Das, a local farmer from Mangaldai, echoing the sentiment of many. As the sun set over the Brahmaputra, the Prime Minister's challenge hung in the air: a test of wills in Assam's volatile political landscape. With assembly polls looming, Modi's fusion of development promises and unapologetic nationalism has set the tone for a fiercely contested battleground. Whether the opposition rises to the dare remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Assam's future is now a national flashpoint.