Amit Shah speaks out against illegal migration in poll-bound Assam

 BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress-led Assam government of misusing central funds, while asking the Chief Minister to "give account of the money allocated by the Centre to the state".

"For 15 years Assam's people have brought Tarun Gogoi to power. Has he been able to give 24 hours electricity to each village, pure drinking water, treatment to common people in medical centres?" Shah asked. Speaking on the reported poll alliance between Congress and minority-dominated All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the BJP president wondered whether it could "give protection to the indigenous people". Addressing a party workers' meeting here, Shah appealed to the people of the state to vote for his party to bring in development and safeguard its borders from illegal migrants.

"Vote for a BJP government in Assam to bring in a corruption-free government that takes the state on the path of progress and development, reduces poverty, gives employment to the jobless and secures the border from illegal migrants", he said. "The BJP wants to bring in a 'desh bhakta' (patriotic) government so that it brings development to the border state.

The state and the central government will work together for development," he added. The meeting was attended by over 50,000 BJP workers from five districts in upper Assam, considered to be a stronghold of the ruling Congress.