'Ate jail's food for seven days': Amit Shah recalls protesting days during Indira Gandhi's rule in Assam

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday recalled the time he protested against Indira Gandhi during his student days in Assam.
Reminiscing his detention, as Shah claimed to raise slogans against former PM Indira Gandhi, while Hiteshwar Saikiawas the chief minister of assam. Shah revealed that he endured seven days of prison meals and physical abuse under the Congress administration in Assam. "I have also been beaten up by the Congress government in Assam. Hiteshwar Saikia was the Chief Minister of Assam and we used to raise slogans against former PM Indira Gandhi... I too ate jail's food for seven days in Assam," he said. Saikia had served two terms as Assam's CM from 1983 to 1985 and 1991 to 1996.

At the inauguration of

Lachit Barphukan Police Academy

in Dergaon, Shah further criticised Congress, saying that

"didn't allow peace in Assam". Further talking about peace in the state, union home minister added, "Over 10,000 youths have laid down arms and joined the mainstream in Assam, with peace returning to the state during the last 10 years,"
Shah also projected that the Lachit Barphukan police academy would achieve premier status nationwide within five years, while hailing current Assam CM Himants. "In the coming five years, the police academy will become the best police academy in the whole country. I thank Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for naming it after Lachit Barphukan. Brave warrior Lachit Barphukan helped Assam to be victorious against the Mughals... Lachit Barphukan was limited to the state of Assam only but today the biography of Lachit Barphukan is being taught in 23 languages and is inspiring students," he added.
Shah also quoted Assam's conviction rate increased from 5 per cent to 25 per cent over three years, anticipating it to surpass the national average soon. He also announced PM Modi government's plans for Rs 3 lakh crore infrastructure projects in Assam, supplementing Rs 5 lakh crore proposed investment from a recent business summit.
Shah remarks came after he inaugurated the initial phase of the renovated police academy, accompanied by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
CM Himanta said, "Taking forward Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji's focus on SMART policing, the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy will house a weapon simulator to prepare our forces for real world combat scenarios without the hazards & costs involved and ensure their basic training."
Shah is on a three-day tour of Assam and Mizoram, arriving in Dergaon on Friday evening. He will participate in the concluding session of the 57th Annual Conference of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in Kokrajhar on March 16. The conference runs from March 13 to 16 at Bodofa Fwthar area in Kokrajhar district.