Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visits Assam’s Barpeta and Kokrajhar

Staff Reporter, Barpeta, March 14: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Barpeta and Kokrajhar and addressed public gatherings. Singh was campaigning for BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad's candidate Phani Bhusan Choudhury, who is contesting the Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency, currently being represented by Congress MP Abdul Khaleque. Addressing a rally in Barpeta, Singh said the CAA will grant citizenship to religiously persecuted people who came to India till 2014 from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Addressing party workers of three NDA allies in Assam — BJP, AGP and UPPL, Singh said there will be no kutcha houses in the state and assured people that everyone will get pucca dwelling units if the Narendra Modi-led government returns to power for the third consecutive term. The Minister claimed that it is a surety that the NDA government will return to power winning over 400 seats during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Singh slammed the Congress and alleged that the opposition party has always neglected Northeast over the years. “Only Modi gave the due respect to this region. When he took charge in 2014, he instructed all ministers to visit Northeast at least thrice every year and review the schemes of their respective departments. Now, the region is progressing very fast,” he added. He claimed that what Congress could not do in 15-20 years of rule in the Northeast, Modi did it within a short span of time by unveiling thousands of crores of projects across the region. The defence minister further claimed that India is moving ahead at a fast pace. The presidents and prime ministers of different countries have accepted that the 21st century will be India’s. India will be among the top three countries by 2027 and will become a developed nation by 2047, he said. Singh asked all workers to personally visit both old and first-time voters, and explain to them what the Modi government has done for them and the country. This visit is seen as significant in the run-up to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as Singh's presence boosts the morale of party workers. It may be mentioned that the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest in 11 out of 14 seats while its ally parties Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will contest in Barpeta and Dhubri seats and UPPL in Kokrajhar seat.