Kaliabor, Jan 18 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the Congress, accusing the party of handing over Assam's land to infiltrators for votes during its rule in the northeastern state.

Modi, while addressing a rally here on the second day of his visit to poll-bound Assam, said infiltration "kept increasing" during the Congress rule in the state for decades, with illegal immigrants "encroaching upon forests, animal corridors and traditional institutions".

''The BJP government is protecting Assam's identity and culture by evicting infiltrators who encroached land,'' he asserted.

''Infiltrators are disturbing the demographic balance, attacking culture, snatching jobs from the poor and youth, and fraudulently occupying land in tribal areas, posing a grave threat to both Assam and the nation’s security,'' the PM said.

He warned people to remain vigilant of the Congress, as its “only policy is to protect infiltrators and gain power”.

''The Congress and its allies are following this approach across the country, and during the Bihar polls, they organised marches and rallies to shield infiltrators, but people there completely rejected them. The people of Assam, too, will give a strong response to them,'' Modi asserted.

The Prime Minister said that the Congress has lost the trust of people as it gives a ''message of negative politics'', and now, the BJP is the ''first choice” of voters in the country.

''Voters trust the BJP for good governance and development. In the Bihar polls, people gave the party record votes and seats even after 20 years in power,” he said.

In the Maharashtra civic polls, too, people voted for the BJP and even in Kerala, ''we now have a mayor from the party'', Modi said.

''Just two days ago, the results of mayoral and councillor elections in major cities of Maharashtra were declared. Mumbai, one of the largest municipal corporations in the world, gave the BJP a record mandate for the first time, while people in most cities of the state have given us an opportunity to serve,'' he said.

''The recent election results across the country clearly show that voters want good governance and development, with focus on both progress and heritage,” the PM said.

These elections also send another message that the country is consistently rejecting the “negative politics” of the opposition party, he said.

''The opposition lost the trust of the nation because it has no agenda for development, and such a party can never serve the interests of Assam or Kaziranga,'' he asserted.

The PM said Kaziranga is not just a national park, but the ''soul of Assam and a priceless jewel of India’s biodiversity, recognised by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site''.

Modi was speaking at the rally in Nagaon district, after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, and virtually flagging off two Amrit Bharat trains.

Noting that Kaziranga is home to the one-horned rhinoceros, he said the wildlife faces challenges during floods when they seek higher ground and must cross the national highways, and often get trapped.

''The government is committed to ensure smooth traffic while keeping the forest safe. After the completion of the elevated corridor, vehicles will pass above while wildlife movement below will remain unhindered, with the design prepared keeping in mind traditional movement routes of rhinos, elephants and tigers,'' Modi said.

The corridor will also improve connectivity between Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and along with new rail services, will open fresh opportunities for the people.

Modi asserted that the BJP government's efforts ensured that no rhino was killed due to poaching at the Kaziranga National Park in 2025.

There was a time when rhino poaching was a major concern, with dozens of one-horned rhinos killed in 2013 and 2014, but the BJP government decided to strengthen security arrangements, provide modern resources to the forest department, enhance surveillance, and increase women’s participation through ‘Van Durga', he said.

''India has shown to the world that both ecology and economy can march together,'' Modi said.

The PM said when nature is protected, opportunities arise and Kaziranga has seen a steady rise in tourism in recent years, and local youth have found new sources of income through homestays, guide services, transport, handicrafts and small businesses.

The northeast has for decades faced the pain of distance – both of hearts and location – with people believing that development was happening elsewhere and they were being left behind, which affected not only the economy but also trust, the PM said.

''The BJP governments at the Centre and states have changed this sentiment by prioritising the development of the northeast, and we began simultaneously to connect Assam through roadways, railways, airways and waterways,'' he said.

Modi alleged that when the Congress was in power at the Centre, Assam received only about Rs 2,000 crore in the rail budget, but his government increased it more than five times to nearly Rs 10,000 crore annually.

''This enhanced investment has led to large-scale infrastructure development, with new rail lines, doubling and electrification boosting railway capacity and passenger facilities,'' he said.

Assam's development is opening up opportunities for the entire northeast, and the Act East Policy has got a new direction, which will take the region to new heights, the PM stated.

PTI DG RBT