Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today targeted the media in Assam, raising question on the news coverage by local newspapers.
Addressing perhaps the largest-ever public rally in entire North East, attended by about 1.5 lakh people, at Changsari on the outskirts of Guwahati, Modi said, “I have attended four rallies in the state in recent times. In each rally, the masses outnumbered the previous one and this rally has broken all records.”
“This is testimony of the love of the people, owing to the blessings of Ma Kamakhya,” he added, beginning his 40-minute speech, interspersed with Assamese words and sentences and verses from Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s songs.
Apparently raising question on neutrality of news coverage by local newspapers, the prime minister said,“I am very sure that newspapers published from Guwahati tomorrow will not carry this news.”
“We shall see to the reason later. But today morning, when I went through the papers, I felt there is something,” Modi, who had spent the night at Raj Bhawan here after arriving last evening, added.
He further said,“The hapless journalists are here today and working hard, but their owners will not allow their work to succeed tomorrow.”
Modi’s visit to the state had been marked with widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, and the prime minister was waved black flags by All Assam Students Union (AASU) on his arrival last evening.
The prime minister’s effigies were burnt and black balloons displayed by AASU activists across the state today, while six Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) activists stripped in front of the state secretariat here ahead of Modi’s rally.
A statewide bandh was also called today by Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad against the PM’s visit and the CAB.
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