“Gunfire Replaced by Music in Bodoland”: PM Modi

• PM Modi hails Bagurumba Dwhou as a historic victory for peace and Bodo identity.
• Assam has shifted from decades of insurgency to an era of “melody and trust.”
• Bodoland sees major growth with a ₹1,500 cr package and new rail connectivity.
• PM attacks opposition for “opening doors to infiltrators” unlike the current regime.

GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 17th Jan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive gathering at the Sarusajai Stadium today for the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, a grand celebration of Bodo heritage. In a spirited address, the Prime Minister declared that Assam has successfully transitioned from a dark era of violence to a vibrant period of cultural renaissance and rapid development. He emphasized that the region, once defined by conflict, is now a beacon of peace for the entire nation.

Reflecting on the region’s turbulent history, PM Modi drew a sharp contrast between the past and present. He remarked that there was a time when bloodshed was frequent and curfews brought silence, but today, the melodious sounds of Kham and Sifung prevail. He noted that where gunfire once echoed, the captivating performances of Bagurumba now resonate.

The Prime Minister credited the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord for this transformation, stating that it ended decades of conflict, restored trust, and enabled thousands of youth to abandon violence and become “cultural ambassadors” of Assam.

The Prime Minister stressed that Bagurumba Dwhou is a medium to honor great Bodo traditions and icons like Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma and Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma. He highlighted that under the current government, Bodo identity has received unprecedented recognition, including the Bodo language being named an associate official language of Assam and Bathou Puja being declared a state holiday. He also pointed to global recognition for the state, such as Charaideo Moidam’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list, as proof that Assam’s culture is now the pride of India.

Turning to development, PM Modi detailed the dividends of peace, citing a ₹1,500 crore special development package for Bodoland and the establishment of the Bodo-Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council. He outlined significant infrastructure strides, including new medical colleges in Kokrajhar and Tamulpur, nursing institutes for youth, and the Kokrajhar–Gelephu rail project. This rail link, declared a special project under the Act East Policy, aims to boost connectivity with Bhutan and open new trade avenues for the region.

The Prime Minister also used the platform to launch a scathing attack on the opposition, accusing previous regimes of keeping Bodoland isolated for political gain. He alleged that while the current government is “cleaning up the sins of the past,” the opposition had previously opened doors for infiltrators to create vote banks.

He praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for reclaiming lakhs of bighas of land from encroachers and restoring it to the indigenous people.

Concluding his address, PM Modi asserted that Assam’s progress is integral to India’s growth story, stating that when society remains connected to its roots, positive change becomes visible to the world.