“Where Congress minds lock, our work begins”: PM Modi Targets Congress in Silchar
PM Modi highlights BJP’s transformative projects in Northeast, including the ₹24,000-crore Shillong–Silchar corridor, while criticizing decades of Congress rule.
Silchar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Congress party on Saturday, asserting that “where the minds of Congress leaders lock, our work begins.” Addressing a gathering after the foundation-laying ceremony of the Shillong–Silchar corridor in Silchar, Modi criticized Congress for neglecting the Northeast for decades.
He said that Congress governments, for several decades after independence, kept the region distant from Delhi and indifferent to development, effectively sidelining Northeast India. “Congress had almost forgotten the Northeast,” he remarked, adding that the BJP’s double-engine government has now connected the region so comprehensively that it has become the center of India’s Act East Policy, creating a strategic bridge to Southeast Asia.
Barak Valley Neglect
Modi highlighted the historical neglect of the Barak Valley, saying, “Congress played a major role in keeping Barak Valley disconnected. At independence, the boundaries drawn cut off Barak Valley from sea access. What was once a trade route and industrial hub lost its strength. Even after independence, decades of Congress rule brought little development here.”
He added, “To accelerate development in this region, the ₹24,000-crore Shillong–Silchar High-Speed Corridor has been launched. Congress cannot even count the zeros in such projects. Where Congress thinking ends, our work begins. This corridor ends decades-long waiting for the people of the Northeast. It will connect Silchar with Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura.”
Focus on Border Areas and Farmers
PM Modi emphasized BJP’s priority for previously neglected areas, stating, “Those left behind in the race for development are our focus. Congress considered border villages as last in importance, but we treat them as the first. That is why the next phase of the Vibrant Village Program started from Cachar and will now benefit multiple villages across Barak Valley.”
Targeting Congress on farmers’ welfare, he said, “The double-engine government is continuously working for farmers. Just yesterday from Guwahati, I released the next installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Congress ruled for years, even when the Prime Minister was elected from Assam, yet not a single rupee was provided.”
Youth and Opportunities in Assam
The Prime Minister also criticized Congress for entangling Assam’s youth in violence and terrorism, stating, “Congress made Assam a laboratory for its ‘divide and rule’ policy. Today, the youth of Assam face a sky full of opportunities.”
Through projects like the Shillong–Silchar corridor and other infrastructure initiatives, Modi underscored the BJP’s commitment to connectivity, economic growth, and empowering citizens in the Northeast, contrasting it with decades of neglect under Congress.
