Guwahati, Assam – March 13: In a high-impact visit strategically timed ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation for infrastructure projects exceeding Rs 24,000 crore. The visit, however, was dominated by a historic socio-economic move—the distribution of land ownership certificates (Land Patta) to Assam’s tea garden workers, a community that has awaited legal land rights for nearly two centuries.

Historic Land Patta Distribution to Tea Garden Workers

In what the Prime Minister described as “ending a historic injustice,” the initiative targets nearly 3.5 lakh families residing in 825 tea gardens across the state. These workers, primarily from the tea tribes and Adivasi communities, were originally brought from the Chotanagpur plateau by British planters generations ago and have lived in “labour lines” without formal land rights ever since.

Addressing a massive gathering, a visibly emotional PM Modi connected his personal journey to the community’s struggles. “I am repaying my debt by giving land pattas to tea garden workers. The tea leaves produced by you reached Gujarat, and by selling tea brewed from it, I have reached this position today. I have your blessings,” Modi stated, drawing loud applause as he recalled his roots as a ‘chaiwala’ (tea seller).

The timing of the move is politically significant, as the tea tribe community constitutes nearly 20% of Assam’s population and holds decisive voting power in approximately 35 of the state’s 126 assembly constituencies.

Modi Slams Congress on Infiltration and “False Dreams”

Launching a blistering attack on the opposition, the Prime Minister accused the Congress party of historically neglecting the tea community and jeopardizing Assam’s demographic fabric. He alleged that the Congress “endangered Assam’s security by siding with infiltrators and denying indigenous people land rights,” leading to demographic imbalances in districts like Dhubri and Goalpara.

Speaking in Kokrajhar, where he virtually unveiled projects due to inclement weather, Modi accused previous regimes of “betraying Bodoland for decades.” He asserted that while Congress signed “agreements merely for show,” the BJP-led NDA government delivered lasting peace through the Bodo Peace Accord. “The NDA has consistently fulfilled its commitments since the Vajpayee era,” he said, citing the inclusion of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule as a testament to their credibility.

Mega Infrastructure Push for Assam and the Northeast

Beyond the political messaging, the Prime Minister’s itinerary was packed with development initiatives aimed at transforming the Northeast’s connectivity and energy landscape. Key projects inaugurated and announced include:

Energy Security: Inauguration of the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project (over Rs 2,300 crore) and the foundation for the Numaligarh-Siliguri Product Pipeline enhancement project.
Gas Grid: Launch of Phase 1 of the North East Gas Grid, connecting Guwahati with Numaligarh, Gohpur, Itanagar, and Dimapur.
Railway Electrification: Dedication of major electrification projects covering 558 km on the Rangiya-Murkongselek line and 571 km on the Chaparmukh-Dibrugarh line, costing nearly Rs 2,250 crore.
Inland Waterways: Foundation stones laid for cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat and Neamati, alongside the establishment of a Regional Centre of Excellence at Bogibeel for maritime training.
Trade and Tourism: Inauguration of the PM Ekta Mall in Guwahati, a hub for ODOP (One District One Product) items, GI-tagged products, and local handicrafts.

PM-KISAN Instalment Released

During the event, the Prime Minister also released the 22nd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring Rs 2,000 each to over 9.3 crore farmers nationwide. He highlighted the global recognition of the scheme, noting that developed nations are impressed by India’s ability to transfer funds directly “with the click of a button.” He contrasted the government’s expenditure of Rs 20 lakh crore on MSP in the last decade against the Rs 6.5 lakh crore under the Congress regime before 2014.

PM Modi praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s ongoing campaign to clear land from encroachment and provide legal documents to tribal communities. The Prime Minister is scheduled to continue his visit on Saturday, flying to Silchar to unveil additional projects worth Rs 23,550 crore.