Guwahati, January 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of disrespecting Assam’s cultural tradition by refusing to wear the traditional gamocha at the President’s Republic Day reception. Shah said that while all dignitaries, including foreign guests, had worn the scarf as a mark of respect, Gandhi was the only one to decline.
Addressing a public rally in Dibrugarh, Shah declared, “Rahul Gandhi can do whatever he wants, but as long as the BJP is in power, it will not allow any disrespect of the culture and tradition of Assam and northeast.” He questioned the Congress party’s legacy in Assam, alleging it had brought “guns, bullets, conflicts and deaths” while the BJP was committed to development.
Shah also accused Congress of using infiltration as a vote-bank strategy, asserting that no infiltration has occurred since the BJP came to power. He praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s initiatives to identify and deport illegal entrants.
The Union Home Minister also announced the inauguration of the first phase of a state-of-the-art Multidisciplinary Sports Complex in Dibrugarh, with the foundation stone laid for the second phase costing Rs 209 crore. He laid the foundation stone for the Rs 284 crore second legislative assembly complex and MLA hostel, part of the government’s efforts to establish Dibrugarh as Assam’s second capital. Shah unveiled plans for the establishment of the World Life and Research Institute on 120 bighas of land at a cost of Rs 292 crore, focusing on disease surveillance, diagnostics, research and capacity building.
On flood control, Shah said wetlands identified through satellite surveys would be developed into 15 large ponds to divert Brahmaputra floodwaters, supporting irrigation, enabling three crops annually, boosting animal husbandry and dairy farming, and promoting tourism and water sports. He declared that the groundwork had begun to make Assam flood-free. In total, Shah unveiled projects worth Rs 1,715 crore, including the second legislative assembly complex in Dibrugarh, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MPs, MLAs, state cabinet ministers and senior officials.
