SIR Meant to Keep Infiltrators Out of Polls: PM Modi Targets Congress in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress, alleging that the party had protected infiltrators for decades and weakened Assam and the Northeast.

Speaking at a public rally in Guwahati, Modi said the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was aimed at safeguarding the democratic process by keeping illegal infiltrators out.

He said the Election Commission of India had begun the SIR exercise to ensure only genuine voters are included, while accusing some forces of attempting to shield those who do not belong in the electoral system.

SIR exercise aimed at stopping infiltration

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the Centre was acting firmly to deal with infiltration and protect the sanctity of elections.

"The Centre is taking strict steps to stop infiltration," the PM said.

Modi claimed that the SIR drive was necessary to prevent infiltrators from influencing democratic processes and accused what he described as "deshdrohis" of standing in the way of corrective action.

PM says Congress ignored Assam and Northeast

Taking aim at the Opposition, Modi said his government was undoing the damage caused by years of neglect under Congress rule.

"The Congress governments had committed the sin of keeping Assam and the Northeast away from development, and the country had to pay a very heavy price for that in terms of its unity, security, and integrity. During the Congress governments, the era of violence flourished for decades. In just 10-11 years, we are moving towards ending it. The districts in the Northeast that were considered violence-affected are today developing as aspirational districts," Modi said.

He asserted that peace and development in the region were the result of sustained efforts by the BJP-led government over the past decade.

Allegation of protecting infiltrators

The Prime Minister further accused the Congress of shielding illegal settlers who, he said, encroached on forests and land in Assam.

"The Congress gave protection to infiltrators who grabbed forests and land, threatening the security and identity of Assam... The BJP government has been correcting mistakes the Congress kept making for decades in the northeast," he said.

Modi said these corrective steps were essential to protect the cultural identity and security of the region.

New Guwahati airport terminal inaugurated

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new Terminal 2 building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati. He also toured the facility along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The newly inaugurated terminal has been designed to handle around 13.1 million passengers annually and has been built at an estimated cost of ₹4,000 crore, significantly boosting aviation infrastructure in the Northeast.