Guwahati (Assam): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Assam 35 times while his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh could not come here even for 10 times in 10 years.
Speaking to ANI, Nadda also said that it was only in PM Modi's regime that Bhupen Hazarika - the identity of Assam - was conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna.
Speaking regarding the development of Assam, Nadda said, "For development, we completed the Bogibeel Bridge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came 35 times to Assam, while Manmohan Singh ji did not come to the state even 10 times in 10 years. Rs 8,000 crore royalty on gas was given by Modiji, why Manmohan Singh ji was not able to do that? The infrastructure work like roads, highways and bridges is going on under the leadership of Modiji."
"AIIMS is being set up and for that, more than Rs 1100 crore are being spent. Six medical colleges have been given to Assam in the last five years. Six super specialty blocks have been given to Assam in the last five years. So there is a new way of development of the state," he added.
Further talking about other development works, the BJP president said that under the Swach Bharat Mission, approximately 59 lakh toilets have been made in the state. "We don't ask anyone's religion. We believe in Sabka saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishvaas. In Ayushman Bharat who comes -- ragpickers, maids, servants, rickshaw pullers and the poor people."
He further said: "We fought polls on three points -- security, development, and protection of culture in Assam. If we talk of culture then Gopinath Bordoloi was given Bharat Ratna by Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji and it has increased the pride of Assam. Bharat Ratna was given to Bhupen Hazarika not by Congress but by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji."
A voter turnout of 76 and 75 per cent was registered in the first two phases of the assembly elections held on March 27 and April 1 respectively. The third and final phase of polling will be held on April 6.
