People in Assam have shown Congress-led alliance 'red card': PM
What's the story
Drawing a football analogy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday claimed the people of Assam have shown the "red card" to the Congress-led Grand Alliance in the state. "Football is a popular sport among the youths of Assam, and to use their parlance, the people of Assam have shown the Congress-led alliance the red card," he said addressing an election rally at Kokrajhar.
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Voting in the second phase of polls is encouraging: Modi
"People of Assam have bestowed their blessings on the NDA in the first phase of the assembly poll and the voting that is going for the second phase today is also encouraging," he said.
Bodo issue
Congress did nothing to check violence in Bodo areas: PM
Modi accused the previous Congress governments of being a mute spectator to unbridled violence in the Bodo-dominated areas. Modi alleged that the Congress governments in the state and the Centre did nothing to check violence in Bodo areas. "In the long years of its rule, the Congress threw Bodoland into bomb, gun and blockade culture. The NDA gifted Bodoland peace and respect," he said.
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Congress has surrendered before the AIUDF: Modi
Targeting the Congress over its alliance with Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF, Modi said the main opposition party has surrendered before tala-chabhi wale. Notably, padlock and key are the election symbol of the AIUDF.
Details
Illegal immigration from Bangladesh a huge divisive issue in Assam
Several top BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah have accused Ajmal and his party of encouraging illegal immigration from Bangladesh, a hugely contentious and divisive issue in Assam. "The Congress and its alliance will be punished for it. We will never allow them to loot the hard-earned peace. Peace, progress, and protection is our mantra for the Bodoland territorial region," Modi said.
Assam elections
Second phase of polls being held today in Assam
The Assam assembly is undergoing elections in three phases across 33,530 polling stations, and 126 constituencies. The first phase of the elections was held on March 27 in 47 constituencies. An estimated 79.97 percent of the total 81.09 lakh voters had exercised their franchise during the first phase of polling in Assam. The second phase of the polls is being held today.