The northeast region would be the key development hub of India and the NDA government has already re-established air, rail, road and water connectivity between the region and other parts of the country, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing his first election rally in Bhatgram at Guwahati on Thursday.

He alleged that Congress’s vote bank politics, wrong policies and corruptions made Assam a detached place besides destroying its culture and traditions adding that with Assam as the main stakeholder, the government is making northeast India as the “development hub of India”.

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Attacking the Congress, he said, “The Congress has become so weak that now it can do anything to win elections. The party giving ‘Laal-Salaam’ (red salute) to the Left parties, wrestling with the Left parties in Kerala and allied with such a party in Assam which harmful for state’s unity and integrity. Congress’s confusing approach could not deliver goods.”

He said that three decades ago people of Assam had first elected nine MLAs out of 15 assembly seats from Barak Valley. The Barak Valley comprising three southern Assam districts — Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi – is mostly dominated by Bengali speaking Hindu and Muslims.

“The Barak Valley had huge resources of tea and petroleum wealth and had connections with other parts of India and neighbouring countries but the Congress destroyed all these resources,” he added.

He stated that a Rs 1,000 crore special package was allocated in this year’s Central Budget for the tea garden workers and that under the PM-KISAN scheme, 27 lakh farmers’ families in Assam are getting financial assistance.

“Double engine governments at the Center and in the state would empower people of Assam to a large extent and make Assam an Atmanirbhar state. It was a matter of regret that the Barak Valley was governed from Guwahati and it had limited use of resources and limited railway and other connectivity. Now the number of trains running in the valley and adjoining areas increased to double,” Modi added.

Modi, in his 27-minute speech, wished people in Bengali and referred to several prominent personalities too.

“During its regime, the Congress party divided Assam in all possible ways while the BJP government has been connecting the people on all fronts. We are not connecting the state just physically, but also connecting it culturally and heartily,” he said.

BJP sources said that the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Assam several times to campaign for the party between March 21 and April 3.

15 assembly seats in Barak Valley will go to polls in the second phase of elections on April 1. In the first phase on March 27, the election will be held for 47 constituencies, while in the second phase on April 1, polling will take place for 39 seats. In the last and third phase on April 6, elections will be held for the remaining 40 constituencies.

The results will be declared on May 2.