Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday mounted a strong political offensive in Assam, accusing previous governments of weakening the state’s social fabric by allowing large-scale infiltration, and asserting that the present dispensation is reversing the damage by reclaiming land, strengthening security and accelerating development.
Shah was addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone for the headquarters of the 10th Battalion of Assam Police at Kachutoli near Guwahati, a project he described as symbolic of Assam’s transformation. The event was attended by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior state officials.
The Home Minister alleged that years of political neglect had allowed infiltrators to settle on fertile land, posing risks to Assam’s demographic balance, culture and internal security. He said land that once represented a vulnerability has now been reclaimed and repurposed to strengthen law enforcement. According to Shah, the Kachutoli site—earlier under encroachment—has been cleared and will now host a modern police campus.
The upcoming headquarters will span more than 120 bighas and is planned as a comprehensive security complex, housing barracks for over 1,000 personnel, residential quarters, training infrastructure, a firing range, medical facilities, surveillance systems and sports amenities. Shah said the project reflects the state government’s focus on long-term capacity building for Assam Police.
Targeting the opposition, Shah claimed that districts such as Dhubri, Barpeta, Morigaon, Darrang, Bongaigaon and Nagaon had witnessed unchecked infiltration in the past. He credited the current government with freeing around 1.45 lakh bighas of land from alleged illegal occupation and asserted that government recruitment has been carried out transparently, resulting in more than 1.4 lakh jobs.
Striking a firm note on national security, Shah said infiltration would be dealt with decisively. He linked the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to efforts aimed at identifying illegal migrants, alleging that resistance to the exercise was politically motivated. He also renewed his criticism of the now-scrapped Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, calling it a policy failure that had compromised Assam’s interests.
On development and cultural identity, Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with giving Assam’s heritage national visibility. He cited the growing recognition of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan and highlighted welfare measures for indigenous communities, tea garden workers and self-help groups. Shah also pointed to major investments, including a ₹27,000-crore semiconductor project, as evidence of Assam’s emerging role as an industrial hub for eastern and northeastern India.
Drawing parallels with improvements in Jammu and Kashmir, Left-Wing Extremism-affected regions and the Northeast, Shah said sustained political stability has delivered tangible security gains. He called for continued public support, asserting that a strong and stable government is essential to build an Assam free from infiltration, insurgency, unemployment and chronic underdevelopment—while preserving its cultural roots.
