In a 1st by any PM, Modi pays homage to Agitation martyrs

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the first sitting PM to officially recognise the sacrifices of the martyrs of the Assam Agitation movement by paying tribute to them at the newly inaugurated ‘Swahid Smarak Kshetra’ in the city.

The historic anti-foreigners movement, which spanned from 1979 to 1985, was spearheaded by the All Assam Students' Union and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad, seeking a solution to the burning issue of illegal immigration in Assam.

The memorial, located in Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, was inaugurated on Dec 10 and was constructed at a cost of Rs 170 crore to commemorate the historic agitation and highlight its various aspects.




During his visit, Modi paid floral tributes at the Swahid Pranam Jyoti, a lamp lit in memory of the 860 martyrs. He also visited galleries displaying busts of the martyrs, including Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of the agitation whose death became a triggering point of the movement.

Modi expressed his sentiments on social media, stating, “The sacrifices made during the Assam movement are an integral part of Assam’s identity and collective memory. We remain resolute in our commitment to working tirelessly for Assam’s progress, prosperity, and cultural pride.” He further described his experience at the Swahid Gallery as deeply moving, highlighting the courage and sacrifices of those who were martyred.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who accompanied the PM alongside governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Union Cabinet minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Accord Implementation minister Atul Bora, described the PM's visit as an emotional and proud moment for Assam, noting that no previous Prime Minister recognised the martyrs of the Assam Agitation before. Sarma criticised the Congress party, which was in power during the agitation, for its handling of the situation.

“Today, as Adarniya @narendramodi ji paid his tributes at the Swahid Smarak Kshetra and garlanded the bust of Swahid Khargeswar Talukdar, I could not help but be reminded of those dark days in Assam’s history when the Congress party plundered the state on numerous counts - promoting illegal infiltration, massacring sons of the soil, taking the state down into a financial abyss,” Sarma wrote in a social media post, taking a dig at Congress.

“Contrast that with today when people are celebrating development, and the Prime Minister personally remembers the sacrifice of the people in protecting their culture and is deeply invested in the growth of Assam, more than all previous PMs combined,” Sarma added.

In addition to his visit to the memorial, Modi, on Sunday morning participated in the Pariksha Pe Charcha event aboard the river cruise vessel Charaidew II on the Brahmaputra. He interacted with 25 students from various districts of Assam, discussing educational topics and encouraging them.

The event was held under tight security, with river police and NDRF and SDRF personnel ensuring safety.

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