Remember, how Assam had got embroiled in intense violence following the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) last month?
With a massive misinformation campaign and rumour mills going on a complete rampage, tensions were fuelled against the Amendment legislation. The anti CAA lobby had run riot, generated xenophobic fears in the state.
Even the joint summit between Japanese PM, Shinzo Abe and PM Modi scheduled to be held at Guwahati in Assam had to be cancelled.
For some time, it had seemed as if CAA was the end of the world in terms of BJP’s influence in Assam. It was being predicted that BJP’s future prospects in Assam would nosedive.
However, PM Modi’s historic visit to Kokrajhar in the state have alleviated all such fears of BJP facing any popular discontent in Assam.
PM Modi visited Kokrajhar in Assam following the signing of the historic Bodo agreement that brings the decades old Bodo militancy to an end. He addressed a huge rally in the city of Kokrajhar, which was once seen as the stronghold of Bodo militancy.
After the historic Bodo agreement was concluded, state authorities had extended an invite to the Prime Minister’s Office for PM Modi’s visit to the state- his first after getting re-elected last year.
Kokrajhar decked up in the days ahead of PM Modi’s visit. People of Assam welcomed the Prime Minister gleefully, showing how he remains extremely popular in the state. One Lakh diyas (earthen lamps) were lit in Assam’s Kokrajhar in order to welcome him on his historic visit to the state.
The local people are clearly enchanted with the Bodo Peace Agreement. The Agreement is an expression of hope and peace for the locals, which explains the celebratory manner in which they greeted the Kokrajhar rally.
One lakh diyas lit to welcome PM Modi in #Assam's #Kokrajhar pic.twitter.com/FgNl5wtF9k
— editorji (@editorji) February 7, 2020
एक लाख जगमाते दीयों के साथ बीहू और दीपावली जैसा एहसास दे रहा है असम का कोकराझार ज़िला
देखिए @manogyaloiwal की ये रिपोर्ट#ReporterDiary
अन्य वीडियो: https://t.co/mf6keLW7vJ pic.twitter.com/xv25poxJIH— AajTak (@aajtak) February 6, 2020
On his historic visit to Assam, I have great honour of welcoming Hon PM Sri @narendramodi at #Guwahati airport today.
There is tremendous excitement on Sri Modi's visit to join us to celebrate #BodoPeaceAccord, at #Kokrajhar.
Grateful for your blessings Sir.#AssamWelcomesModi pic.twitter.com/a9ZbTzr3IL
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) February 7, 2020
Honoured to receive the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on the historic occasion, at LGBI Airport, Guwahati.
On behalf of the people of Assam, I heartily welcome Modi ji to join the celebrations at #Kokrajhar. #BodoPeaceAccord #AssamWelcomesModi pic.twitter.com/MZxa4NORDO
— Sarbananda Sonowal (Modi Ka Parivar) (@sarbanandsonwal) February 7, 2020
A humongous crowd cheered PM Modi during his Kokrajhar rally, even as the anti-CAA lobby’s attempts to make political use of the Citizenship Amendment Act seemed to go down the drain.
Today’s rally in Kokrajhar will be remembered for generations to come! Thankful to all those who came to bless us.
Have a look at these pictures… pic.twitter.com/fSSu4Vm9AG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 7, 2020
Drawing a close connect with the Bodo culture, PM Modi said, “The enthusiasm, which I see today, is more satisfying than the colourful atmosphere of Aronai and Dokhona.”
PM @narendramodi addresses a rally in Kokrajhar, Assam.
'The enthusiasm, which I see today, is more satisfying than the colourful atmosphere of Aronai and Dokhona,' says PM Modi.
Listen in. | #ModiUnitesIndia pic.twitter.com/VgdeICqYAq
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) February 7, 2020
The Prime Minister also interacted with cultural artists who performed at the historic Kokrajhar rally that was organised to celebrate and hail the historic Bodo Peace Accord.
Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with cultural artists who performed at the rally in Kokrajhar today, to celebrate the signing of the Bodo Agreement. #BodoPeaceAccord pic.twitter.com/S1h2IC53JC
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2020
During his speech, PM Modi was at his eloquent best. He broadly addressed the two key issues- Bodo Peace Agreement and the CAA.
He described the Bodo Peace Accord as a new dawn for the state of Assam. The Prime Minister said, “I welcome the people who were part of the Bodoland movement to the Indian mainstream.”
He also assured people of Assam that his government wouldn’t allow terorrism to make a comeback in the state, and added, “Never again will a brother, sister, mother or father ever lose a member of their family. Mothers whose children have returned from the wilderness are blessing me today. So many families have been reconciled.”
On the issue of CAA, PM Modi reiterated how misinformation and rumours were being spread in an attempt to create xenophobic fears in Assam.
Busting all myths against the CAA, he said, “Today I have come to assure my colleagues in Assam that the country will neither tolerate nor forgive an anti-Assam, anti-national mentality or its supporters. It is these forces that are spreading rumors in Assam and North East that people from outside will come and settle here after the implementation of CAA. I assure the people of Assam that nothing like this will happen.”
PM Modi received a grand welcome in Assam, and his rally was thronged by a massive crowd, which led to PM Modi himself describing the gathering it as the largest political gathering since India’s Independence.
The reception that PM Modi received in Assam, and his effective messaging during the Kokrajhar rally show that PM Modi has won back Assam in a single speech.
Despite all the negative propganda by the entire leftist ecosystem, the BJP seems to have maintained its stronghold in Assam. It is only because of its effective ground campaign to dispel all myths against the CAA.
North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Chairman, Himanta Biswa Sarma led BJP’ ground-level campaigning. Ever since the passage of CAA in the Parliament, Sarma reached out to the people of the state in order to take on the rumour mills that had started operating in full flow.
Debunking the misinformation campaign against CAA, he had said, “The Citizenship Act was amended not to dilute the spirit of the Assam Accord but to address some of its unresolved issues.”
Dismissing all xenophobic fears, Assam Finance Minister, Sarma had also assured the people of the state that no more than 5 Lakh refugees would be eligible to apply for citizenship under the CAA.
It was being propagated that BJP’s popularity in Assam had suffered a serious dent following the CAA. But the grand reception that PM Modi received in Assam shows that he still remains immensely popular in the state. With his speech and outreach during the Kokrajhar rally, PM Modi has clearly won back Assam in a far easier manner than one would have thought when anti CAA violence had gripped the state in December 2019.
