Modi blames Congress, PM for failing to develop northeast in Guwahati, Imphal

Says death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania 'shameful for nation'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in rallies in Guwahati and Imphal on Saturday attacked Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for "failing" to ensure the development of northeast, though he represented Assam for 23 years in the Rajya Sabha.

"For 23 years, you have been sending the prime minister from here. You made such a big investment but what did you get in return. Did you get anything? If he, being yours, could not do anything for you, what will he do for the nation?" Modi told.

Speaking about the death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania in Delhi, he said in Imphal, "It is a shameful incident for the nation. I offer my prayers for the boy and his family. There is lack of governance there. There are cases of atrocities on women."

"I hope the governments of India and Delhi come out of the blame game and work towards justice for the young boy and his family."

He said such incidents further alienated the people of the northeastern states, which due to the 'unfortunate policies' of the Congress had been neglected and did not develop in 60 years.     

Around 200,000, unprecedented in Assam's recent political history, turned up to listen to Modi at the Veterinary College playground at Khanapara on the outskirts of Guwahati. Even police sources admitted the turnout had never been of this scale. They put it at 'above 100,000'. However, the BJP claimed it was 300,000.

The BJP has never enjoyed power in the state. A state BJP leader admitted the turnout was beyond expectations.

In the current Lok Sabha, the BJP has four members of Parliament from Assam. The state has 14 Lok Sabha seats.

Modi addressed the gathering at 3 pm. He had addressed another in Imphal at 12 noon.

More, sources from Manipur said the rally in Imphal, too, saw an 'unprecedented' turnout. Modi, in ethnic attire, addressed the gathering in English and Hindi.

In the rallies, he dwelt on state-specific issues, including insurgency, law and order, lack of governance, unemployment, illegal Bangladeshi immigration and land-swap treaty.

On Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, he said: "It's not just sufficient to have a name Tarun (young). You also need tarun ideas and a tarun vision to develop this country."

Modi questioned why the people of Assam, rich in resources, were poor? "Congress," the crowd replied. He then said: "When you know, why are you tolerating them?"

19-year-old Tania, an Arunachal Pradesh member of legislative Assembly's son, was found dead last month after he was allegedly beaten up by a group of five-six men in Lajpat Nagar market in South Delhi following an altercation sparked by their taunts on his hairstyle.     

The BJP leader listed the issues of insurgency and the drug-trafficking as the ones impacting the northeast and accused the Congress government in the state of failing in its efforts to control the menace.