Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Guwahati on Sunday emphasised his government’s focus on vikas (development) and virasat (heritage) to benefit “even the poorest” while inaugurating and laying the foundation of development projects of over Rs 11,600 crore in Assam at a packed rally in Guwahati.

Addressing a packed and enthusiastic crowd on a pleasant Sunday at the Khanapara ground here, Modi in his 32-minute speech said the projects he had inaugurated or laid the foundation of would not only boost Assam’s road connectivity with other northeastern states and neighbouring Southeast Asia.

The projects will also give a fillip to tourism, sports and healthcare leading to employment generation in these sectors.

Modi, who laid the foundation of the Maa Kamakhya Divya Lok Pariyojana, said the ease of access and comfort of devotees/pilgrims and their footfall will increase once the project is completed.

“Assam will become the tourism gateway in the Northeast with an increase in the footfall of devotees who come for Maa Kamakhya’s darshan.”

While dwelling on vikas and virasat so that “even the poorest benefits” from the development initiatives that have been launched in the past ten years, Modi said previous governments did not understand the “importance of Bharat’s pilgrimage sites and temples”.

Modi took charge as the Prime Minister in May 2014.

While stressing the significance of pilgrimage sites and temples, Modi said these places “symbolised an indelible mark of our civilization over thousands of years, showcasing how Bharat has held on to every crisis it has faced. We have witnessed how the civilizations, considered to be prosperous in the past, now stand in ruins”.

“Post-independence governments... did not understand the importance of Bharat’s holy places” but his government has “rectified” the situation in the past ten years with “policies focussing on both vikas (development) and virasat (heritage).”

Modi’s speech did not mention about the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in April-May but the rally effectively kicked off the ruling BJP’s campaign for the polls in the state having 14 Lok Sabha seats.

His stress on vikas and virasat is seen as a counter to the Opposition, especially the Congress’ accusation against the Modi-led government of favouring the rich through policies, tax exemption and privatising public enterprises.

Modi stressed the importance of connecting historical and spiritual places in the state with modern facilities, a move aimed at “preserving these sites and accelerating development”. Modi said: “Be it a rickshaw puller, a taxi driver, a hotel owner or a street vendor, the livelihood of even the poorest gets a boost with the arrival of pilgrims and devotees.”

Crediting the “double engine” government at the Centre and the state for the record tourist footfall in the past ten years in the Northeast and increasing development expenditure in the region by four times, Modi said the length of railway tracks laid was increased by more than 1,900km, the railway budget by almost 400 per cent and 6,000km of new national highways were constructed in the past 10 years compared to 10,000km till 2014.

Reaching out to the youths of Assam and the Northeast, Modi said they dream of witnessing development similar to that of East Asia.

“I want to tell the youth of Assam and the Northeast that your dream is Modi’s promise. I will not leave any stone unturned to ensure your dream is fulfilled. This is Modi’s guarantee.”

“Modi’s guarantee means the guarantee of fulfilment,” the Prime Minister said as he mentioned guaranteeing basic facilities to the poor, women, youth and farmers.