Those who couldn't deliver in 15 years, want me to perform in 15 months: PM

Kokrajhar, Assam: Attacking the 15-year Congress rule in Assam and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who represents the state in Rajya Sabha, over "lack of development", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched BJP's election campaign here by announcing a slew of initiatives, including tribal status to two communities.

Addressing a rally, organised jointly by BJP and its new ally Bodoland People's Front for the upcoming Assam Assembly polls, he said BJP will ensure all-round development of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas which have been "betrayed" by Congress.

"Why does Assam have so many problems when the same government is there for 15 years and the state has sent a Prime Minister for ten years… They could not do anything in 15 years and now they want me to solve all their problems within 15 months.... Don't you think its unfair to me," Modi said.

"There is a long list of problems. There has been no development," he said addressing the rally at Bodofanagar.

The Prime Minister came down heavily on the Congress government in Assam and the previous UPA government at the Centre for "failing" to fulfill dreams and aspiration of the people.

"They are asking questions about my government. But what have you done in last 15 years in Assam and 10 years in the Centre when a person representing Assam was the Prime Minister," he said, referring to Singh.

"They are just trying to confuse the people. You compare their 15-year rule and my 15-month-old government. You will see the vast difference," he said.

Modi announced that the people of Karbi community living in the plains of Assam and Bodos living in hill areas would be granted tribal status and the process has already started.

"Development is the only solution to all problems of the area and I have opened both my heart and hand to ensure that the dreams and aspiration of the people of the area, which the state government has failed to fulfil, are realised," Modi said.

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The Prime Minister said he had instructed that youths from the Northeast should be recruited in the Delhi Police and the process has already began.

Announcing other initiatives, the Prime Minister said a central technical institute located in Kokrajhar would be given the status of a deemed university, the Sealdah-Guwahati

Kanchenjunga Express will be extended up to the Barak Valley while the Rupsi Airport in Dhubri will be taken over by the Indian Air Force.

Election to Assam's 126-member Assembly is expected to be held in April-May along with four other states.

The BPF is believed to have strong presence in Kokrajhar and its neighbouring areas. The party has been in power in Bodoland Territorial Council since its inception in 2003.

Later, addressing a 'Youth Rally' in Guwahati, the Prime Minister asked why Assam continues to remain backward despite Congress ruling the state for so long.

"Assam has plenty of natural resources. It has enough of water to generate hydro-electric power but people of the state do not get 24-hour electricity. Who is responsible for this," he asked.

Modi said his government has taken it as a priority to develop the entire eastern India, including Assam, in all spheres as the region continues to remain backward despite having rich natural resources.

"If Mumbai can develop, Guwahati can't remain backward. If Ahmedabad can develop, why can't Assam develop. India will not develop unless the eastern India is developed too," he said.

The Prime Minister asked why after so many years of Congress rule in the state as well as at the centre, the gauge conversion of railway track was not completed in Assam.

"If there is no gauge conversation, how the development would come. What did they do in so many years? But we have given maximum funds in last railway budget for Assam and other states of the Northeast. For development of road network also, maximum funds were given to the region. We have formulated the 'Act East Policy' for the benefit of the entire region," he said.

Modi said India is a country of youth as majority of its population is below 35 years of age and hence welfare of youth is a must.

"For Congress, youth means the sons and daughters of its leaders," he said.

The Prime Minister said most of the rating agencies in the world -- be it World Bank or IMF or any other – have termed Indian economy as the fastest growing in the world.

"India is developing at a fast pace. There has been an increase of 40 per cent in FDI. If FDI is coming, there will be more industry and more industry means more jobs for youths," he said.

Modi also highlighted various development initiatives taken by his government in last 18 months rule that include Pradhan Mantri Dhan Jan Yojana, Mudra Bank Yojana, saying these were beneficial to the downtrodden, particularly the SCs and STs.