Deepest respects to the nature-loving people of Assam.
Governor of Assam Lakshman Prasad Acharya Ji, the popular Chief Minister here Himanta Biswa Sarma Ji, my colleague in the Center Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, Pabitra Margherita Ji, Assam Ministers Atul Bora Ji, Charan Boro Ji, Krishnendu Paul Ji, Keshab Mahanta Ji, other dignitaries, and my dear brothers and sisters of Assam.
The weather is cold, the villages are far apart, yet, as far as my eyes can reach, only people and more people are visible. You have come in such large numbers to bless us, I am very, very grateful to you.
Today, I have again had the privilege of coming to Kaziranga. It is natural for me to remember my previous visit, very natural. The moments spent in Kaziranga two years ago are among the very special experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to stay overnight in Kaziranga National Park, and during the elephant safari the next morning, I felt the beauty of this region very closely.
Friends,
I always get a different kind of joy coming to Assam. This land is the land of heroes. It is the land of sons and daughters who show their talent in every field. Just yesterday, I participated in the Bagurumba Dwhou program in Guwahati. There, the daughters of our Bodo community created a new record by performing Bagurumba. Such a wonderful performance of Bagurumba, the energy of more than ten thousand artists, the beat of the Kham, the tune of the Sifung - those mesmerizing moments captivated everyone. The experience of Bagurumba, passing through the eyes, kept descending into the heart. Our artists of Assam truly did wonders. Their hard work, their preparation, their coordination, everything was very wonderful. I will once again heartily congratulate all the artists involved in Bagurumba Dwhou today, and I also congratulate the social media influencers across the country; I have been seeing since yesterday that this excellent dance of the Bodo tradition is dominating social media. I am fully confident that the people of the country and the world will recognize this Indian perspective of art and culture, its strength, and all the social influencers who are promoting this work also deserve congratulations. For friends in the media, that yesterday evening time remains quite packed, but since this morning, many TV media outlets have also started re-broadcasting this program. You can imagine how grand this program must have been.
Friends,
Last year, I also participated in the Jhumur Festival. This time, I have had the chance to come on the occasion of Magh Bihu. A month ago, I came here for development projects. The popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati has been expanded. I inaugurated its new terminal building. Also, I laid the foundation stone of the Ammonia-Urea complex in Namrup. All such occasions have further strengthened the mantra of the BJP government, ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ (Development as well as Heritage). Some friends here have brought pictures and are standing like this, they will get tired; you send them, I will take them, you have them collected ahead; people from the SPG, please take the pictures from those who have brought them; if your address is written on the back, my letter will definitely come. Here too, on this side as well, some youth has been standing shoulder to shoulder for a long time. I thank all you artists; for your love, for this feeling of yours, I respect you. All of you please sit down; those who are here, please take them, brother, do not trouble them.
Friends,
Kaliabhor holds an important place in the history of Assam. This place is very important for the present and future of Assam as well. This is also the gateway to Kaziranga National Park and the center of connectivity for Upper Assam. It was from here that the great warrior Lachit Borphukan Ji had formulated the strategy to oust the Mughal invaders. Under his leadership, the people of Assam, with courage, unity, and firm determination, defeated the Mughal army. This was not just a military victory; it was the proclamation of Assam's self-respect and self-confidence. In the past, the responsibilities of the entire Western Assam were managed from here. Kaliabhor has had strategic importance since the time of Ahom rule. I am happy that under the BJP government, this region is now becoming an important center of connectivity and development.
Friends,
Today, the BJP has become the first choice of people across the entire country. For the past one and a half years, the country's trust in the BJP has been continuously increasing. Recently, elections were held in Bihar; there, even after 20 years, the public gave record votes to the BJP and made it win record seats. Just two days ago, election results for Mayors and Councilors in the big cities of Maharashtra have come. Mumbai, which is one of the largest corporations in the world, there the public gave a record mandate to the BJP for the first time. See, the victory is happening in Mumbai, and the celebration is being held in Kaziranga. The public of most cities in Maharashtra has given the BJP the opportunity to serve.
Friends,
Before this, in the far-distant South, the public of Kerala has given huge support to the BJP. For the first time, a BJP Mayor has been appointed there; in the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, the BJP is serving today.
Friends,
Whatever election results have come in the recent past, their mandate is clear. The voter of the country today wants good governance, wants development. They focus on both development and heritage. That is why they like the BJP.
Friends,
There is another message from these elections: the country is continuously rejecting the negative politics of Congress. In the city of Mumbai where Congress was born, it has today become the fourth or fifth-numbered party. In Maharashtra, where Congress ruled for years, Congress has completely shrunk. Congress has lost the trust of the country because Congress has no agenda for development. Such a Congress can never do good for Assam or Kaziranga.
Friends,
Regarding the beauty of Kaziranga, Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Ji had said: Aamar Kazironga Dhonyo, Prokitir Dhunia Kulat Kheli, Aamar Mon Hol Punyo. (Our Kaziranga is blessed, playing in the beautiful lap of nature, our heart has become pure). These words contain the feeling of love for Kaziranga, and also an expression of the Assamese people's affection for nature. Kaziranga is not just a National Park; Kaziranga is the soul of Assam, the soul; it is also a priceless gem of India's bio-diversity. UNESCO has given it the status of a World Heritage Site.
Friends,
Saving Kaziranga and the wildlife here is not just protecting the environment; it is also our responsibility towards the future of Assam and coming generations. And not just Modi’s, it is your responsibility too, and keeping this in mind, the beginning of new projects is taking place from the land of Assam today; these will have a very wide impact. I congratulate you very much for these projects.
Friends,
Kaziranga is the home of the one-horned rhino. Every year during the flood time when the water level of the Brahmaputra rises, the biggest challenge arises here. Then the wildlife comes out in search of higher grounds. In this path, they have to cross the National Highway. At such times, rhinos, elephants, and deer get stuck on the roadside. Our effort is that the road also keeps running and the forest also remains safe. Under this very vision, a corridor about 90 kilometers long is being prepared from Kaliabhor to Numaligarh. About 7 thousand crore rupees will be spent on this. In this, an elevated wildlife corridor about 35 kilometers long will also be built. Here, vehicles will pass from above and the movement of wildlife will continue without any hindrance below. Whether it is the one-horned rhino, elephants, or tigers, the design has been prepared keeping their traditional movement routes in mind.
Friends,
This corridor will also improve the connectivity of Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. From the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor and new rail services, new possibilities will be created for the people of Assam. I congratulate the people of Assam and the countrymen for these important projects.
Friends,
When nature is safe, opportunities are also created along with it. In the last few years, the number of tourists in Kaziranga has continuously increased. Through homestays, guide services, transport, handicrafts, and small businesses, local youth have found new means of income.
Friends,
Today, I will especially praise you people of Assam and the government here for one more thing. There was a time when incidents of rhino poaching in Kaziranga had become the biggest concern for Assam. In 2013 and 2014, dozens of one-horned rhinos were killed. The BJP government had decided that we will not let this continue, now it won't work like this. After that, we strengthened the security system afresh. The forest department received modern resources, the monitoring system was empowered, and the participation of women was increased in the form of ‘Van Durga’. Its pleasant result also came forward. In 2025, not a single incident of rhino poaching has come to light. And therefore, all of you and the government, everyone deserves congratulations. This has been possible through the political willpower of the BJP government and the efforts of the people of Assam.
Friends,
For a long time, a thought persisted that nature and progress are opposite to each other; it was said that these two cannot go together. But today, India is showing the world that both can move forward together - Economy as well as Ecology. In the last decade, the coverage of forests and trees in the country has increased. People participated enthusiastically in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Under this campaign, more than 260 crore trees have been planted so far. After 2014, the number of Tiger and Elephant Reserves in the country has increased. There has also been a large expansion in Protected Areas and Community Areas. The cheetahs that had become extinct in India a long time ago have now been brought back. Today, the cheetah has become a new attraction for people. We are also continuously working on wetland conservation. Today, India has become the largest Ramsar network in Asia. According to the number of Ramsar sites, India is in third place in the world. Now our Assam is also showing the world how we can manage our heritage along with development and also protect nature.
Friends,
The biggest pain of the North East has always been that of distance. Distance of hearts, distance of places; for decades, the people here kept feeling that the development of the country was happening elsewhere and they were being left behind. This had an impact not only on the economy but also on trust. The BJP did the work of changing this feeling; the double-engine government made the development of the North East a priority. Work began simultaneously on connecting Assam through Roadways, Railways, Airways, and Waterways.
Friends,
When we increase rail connectivity, its benefit occurs at both social and economic levels. Therefore, the expansion of connectivity is very important for the North East. But Congress never cared for it. I give you a figure. When there was a Congress government at the Center, Assam used to get a very small rail budget. About 2 thousand crore rupees; now in the BJP government, it has been increased to about 10 thousand crore rupees annually. Now I ask you, did you remember this figure? Did you remember this figure? Or did you forget? I make you remember again: in the time of Congress, Assam used to get two thousand crore rupees for railways, how much? Everyone speak, how much used to be received? How much used to be received? How much used to be received? After the BJP government came, how much does Assam receive - 10 thousand crore rupees. How much? How much? How much? 10 thousand crore rupees. That is, the BJP is giving five times more money to Assam than the money Congress used to give to Assam for railways.
Friends,
From this increased investment, infrastructure construction has taken place on a large scale. By laying new rail lines, through doubling and electrification, the capacity of the railway has increased, and facilities for people have increased. The three new train services starting from Kaliabhor today are also an important expansion in the rail connectivity of Assam. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will connect Guwahati to Kolkata. This modern sleeper train will make long-distance travel much more comfortable. Along with this, the starting of two Amrit Bharat Express trains is being done. The routes of these trains include many important stations of Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, which will directly benefit lakhs of passengers. These trains will connect the traders of Assam to new markets; students will be able to easily reach new opportunities for education. And it will become simple for the people of Assam to come and go to different parts of the country. This expansion of connectivity creates trust that the North East is no longer on the margins of development. North East is no longer far away; North East is now close to the heart and also close to Delhi.
Friends,
Today, among you, a discussion of a major challenge present before Assam is also necessary. This challenge is of saving Assam's identity, of saving Assam's culture. You tell me, should Assam's identity be saved or not? Not like this, everyone answer, should Assam's identity be saved or not? Should your identity be formed or not? Should the heritage of your ancestors be saved or not? Today, the way the BJP government in Assam is dealing with infiltration, the way it is freeing our forests, historical cultural sites, and your lands from illegal occupations, is being greatly praised today. Is this happening right or not? Should this happen or not? Is this for your good or not? But you also think for a moment, friends, what did Congress do with Assam? Just to form governments, to get some votes, it handed over the soil of Assam to infiltrators. Congress formed governments in Assam for decades. During this time, infiltration kept increasing continuously, kept increasing, and what did these people – infiltrators - do? They had no concern for the history of Assam, the culture here, or our faith; therefore, they occupied places everywhere. Due to infiltration, occupations happened in animal corridors, illegal poaching was encouraged, and smuggling and other crimes also increased.
Friends,
These infiltrators are disturbing the balance of population, attacking our culture, snatching the employment of the poor and the youth, and occupying land by deceiving people in tribal areas. This is a very big threat to the security of both Assam and the country.
Friends,
You have to be very careful of Congress. Congress has only one policy: save the infiltrators, get power with the help of infiltrators! Across the whole country, Congress and its companions are doing this. In Bihar too, they took out journeys and rallies to save infiltrators. But the public of Bihar completely wiped out Congress. Now it is the turn of the people of Assam; I am confident that Congress will get a befitting reply from the land of Assam as well.
Friends,
The development of Assam is opening new doors for the development of the entire North East. Assam is giving direction to the Act East Policy. When Assam moves forward, the North East moves forward. When the North East moves forward, India moves forward. Our efforts and the trust of the people of Assam will take the entire North East to new heights. With this very belief, I once again congratulate all of you very much for today's projects. Speak with me -
Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
This year is 150 years of Vande Mataram; this is the time for holy remembrance. Speak with me -
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram
