Land swapping deal with Bangladesh to stop infiltration: PM Narendra Modi

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said all roads used for infiltration from Bangladesh to Assam will be plugged and the Centre will go ahead with the land swapping deal with the neighbouring country for a permanent solution to the long-pending problem.

"I will make such arrangements after which all roads will be closed for Bangladeshis coming and destroying Assam daily. Believe my word that land swapping deal will be done for a permanent solution to this problem of Assam," Modi told a party workers' rally here.

He said "with full responsibility" that handing over of land (to Bangladesh) will be done only for security of people of Assam and the border and not for "any harm to Assam in future."

Assuring people that there will be no compromise on Assam's security, Modi said he is aware of the sentiment of the people of the state regarding the land swapping agreement.

"I know Assam's problems... I assure you, we will move ahead (with the agreement) considering the country's and Assam's welfare. Assam will gain in long term even if it looks like losing in short term," he said, adding the law will take its own course to punish all those creating problems in Assam.

Referring to the ambitious Jan Dhan Yojna, the Prime Minister said, "BJP is working to bring the poor to the mainstream. The poor had never entered the banks (before). We have opened bank doors for them.

"After coming to power, we have made the PSU banks work very hard now. Every week, one crore bank accounts are being opened. Earlier, one crore accounts were opened not even in one month, but in one year."