Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp political and ideological attack on the Congress while addressing a large public rally in Guwahati, Assam, asserting that the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was aimed at ensuring that “infiltrators” are kept out of the electoral process. He accused the Congress of protecting such elements for decades, calling them a threat to Assam’s identity, security, and democratic integrity.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came during a high-profile visit to Assam, where he also inaugurated the new terminal building at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The visit underlined the Centre’s continued political and developmental focus on the Northeast, a region PM Modi said had been “ignored and sidelined” by successive Congress governments.
PM Modi Backs Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Drive
Speaking on the issue of electoral integrity, PM Modi said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiated by the Election Commission of India was a crucial step to ensure that only genuine citizens are allowed to participate in India’s democratic process.
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“The Centre is taking strict steps to stop infiltration. The SIR exercise is being conducted to ensure that infiltrators are kept out of the electoral system,” PM Modi said, adding that while constitutional institutions were doing their duty, some political forces were actively trying to shield illegal elements.
The SIR process involves an extensive verification of electoral rolls, particularly in sensitive border regions such as Assam, where concerns over illegal migration have long been a politically charged and socially sensitive issue. According to the Prime Minister, the exercise is not targeted at any community but is instead focused on strengthening democracy and protecting the rights of genuine citizens.
Congress Accused of Protecting Infiltrators
Taking a direct swipe at the Congress, PM Modi accused the party of acting as a shield for infiltrators for political gains. He used strong language to describe those opposing the SIR process, referring to them as “deshdrohis” or traitors who were undermining national interests.
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“Congress gave protection to infiltrators who grabbed forests and land, threatening the security and identity of Assam,” the Prime Minister alleged. He further said that such policies had weakened the region socially and economically while creating long-term security challenges for the nation.
PM Modi claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government was now correcting the mistakes committed by Congress over several decades. According to him, these mistakes not only stalled Assam’s development but also allowed lawlessness and demographic imbalance to flourish.
‘Correcting Decades of Neglect in Assam and Northeast’
The Prime Minister reiterated his long-standing critique of Congress-era governance in the Northeast, stating that the region was deliberately kept away from mainstream development. He said this neglect came at a heavy cost to national unity, security, and economic progress.
“The Congress governments committed the sin of keeping Assam and the Northeast away from development. The country had to pay a heavy price for this in terms of unity, security, and integrity,” PM Modi said.
He pointed out that violence, insurgency, and instability dominated the Northeast for decades under Congress rule. In contrast, the BJP government, he claimed, has worked systematically over the past 10–11 years to bring peace, infrastructure, and investment to the region.
“Districts that were once known only for violence are today developing as aspirational districts,” the Prime Minister said, crediting improved governance, peace accords, and infrastructure projects for transforming the region.
Assam’s Strategic Importance and Infiltration Concerns
Assam occupies a unique and sensitive position in India’s geopolitical landscape, sharing borders with multiple states and countries. Concerns over illegal infiltration, particularly from across international borders, have long shaped the state’s political discourse.
The issue of infiltration has been central to several movements in Assam, including the Assam Agitation of the 1980s, which ultimately led to the signing of the Assam Accord. PM Modi’s emphasis on SIR aligns with the BJP’s broader narrative of enforcing border security, protecting indigenous identity, and ensuring fair representation.
According to BJP leaders, unchecked infiltration places pressure on land, forests, public resources, and employment, while also posing security risks. The Prime Minister echoed these concerns, saying that protecting Assam’s cultural and demographic identity is non-negotiable.
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Opposition Pushback and Political Polarisation
PM Modi’s remarks are likely to intensify political polarisation ahead of upcoming elections. The Congress and other opposition parties have repeatedly accused the BJP of using citizenship and electoral verification drives to target minorities and marginalised communities.
Opposition leaders argue that exercises such as SIR could lead to exclusion errors, affecting genuine voters. However, the BJP maintains that due process and constitutional safeguards are in place to prevent misuse.
The Prime Minister dismissed such criticism, stating that those opposing transparency and verification were doing so for political survival rather than public welfare.
Inauguration of Guwahati Airport Terminal 2
Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the new Terminal 2 building at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, marking a major milestone in Assam’s infrastructure development.
The new terminal, built at an estimated cost of ₹4,000 crore, is designed to handle approximately 13.1 million passengers annually. It is now the largest airport terminal in the Northeast and is expected to significantly boost regional connectivity, tourism, and trade.
The Prime Minister toured the terminal alongside Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, praising the project as a symbol of the Centre’s commitment to integrating the Northeast with India’s economic mainstream.
Infrastructure as a Tool for Integration
PM Modi highlighted how infrastructure projects such as airports, highways, railways, and digital connectivity are playing a critical role in integrating the Northeast with the rest of India.
He said improved connectivity reduces isolation, encourages investment, creates jobs, and helps curb insurgency by providing economic opportunities. According to him, development and security go hand in hand.
The Guwahati airport expansion is part of a broader push that includes new rail lines, road corridors, bridges, and industrial hubs across Assam and neighbouring states.
BJP’s Political Messaging in Assam
The Prime Minister’s Assam visit combined governance messaging with sharp political rhetoric, reinforcing the BJP’s twin narratives of development and national security.
By linking the SIR exercise to infiltration concerns and Congress-era neglect, PM Modi positioned the BJP as the sole protector of Assam’s identity and democratic integrity. This messaging resonates strongly with the party’s core voter base in the state.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been one of the BJP’s most vocal leaders on infiltration issues, and the Prime Minister’s remarks further strengthened the state leadership’s stance.
What Lies Ahead
As the Election Commission proceeds with the Special Intensive Revision, political tensions are expected to rise, particularly in states like Assam where citizenship and identity issues remain deeply sensitive.
The Centre’s challenge will be to ensure that the process remains transparent, inclusive, and legally robust while addressing genuine security and demographic concerns.
For the BJP, the Assam narrative fits neatly into its broader national messaging ahead of future elections — a blend of strong governance, nationalism, and infrastructure-led development.
For the opposition, countering this narrative will require addressing public concerns over exclusion, while also presenting an alternative vision for the Northeast’s future.
Conclusion
PM Modi’s Guwahati rally underscored the centrality of Assam and the Northeast in India’s political and strategic imagination. By backing the SIR exercise and accusing Congress of protecting infiltrators, the Prime Minister sharpened the political divide while reaffirming his government’s priorities of security, development, and democratic integrity.
As Assam continues its transformation through infrastructure expansion and governance reforms, the debate over infiltration and electoral integrity is set to remain a defining issue in the region’s political discourse.
