Bulldozers emerge as visual symbol at BJP yatra in Assam

Guwahati: Bulldozers — widely used in demolition drives against encroachments by the BJP-led govt in Assam — have emerged as a striking visual element of BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra, launched to seek public blessings ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.After Morigaon, a line of bulldozers was displayed in Makum in upper Assam on Sunday to welcome CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. BJP workers climbed onto the bulldozer blades to shower flowers on Sarma. He is leading the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, which is scheduled to travel across Assam in multiple phases.BJP says that the bulldozers symbolise the protection of Assamese identity through anti-encroachment drives against suspected illegal migrants, even as the opposition repeatedly accused the govt of being ruthless in its bulldozer-led demolition actions.

According to a state BJP statement released on Sunday, the Jan Ashirwad Yatra has covered 800 kilometres across 25 constituencies in 7 days. Bulldozers were lined up to shower flowers on the CM, under whom BJP leaders say they will form the govt again.Assam BJP chief spokesperson Kishore Upadhyay crediting the CM for the anti-encroachment drives as part of BJP’s pledge to protect Jati-Mati-Bheti (identity-land-hearth).

“Bulldozers or excavators are the symbol of recovering the lands of Assam from encroachment. These were the main instrument to used clear massive encroachments that took place mainly during the time of previous Congress govts,” Upadhyay said.He said 64 lakh bighas of land in Assam were encroached, of which, 1.5 lakh bighas have been freed so far, adding that there should be no politics over bulldozers greeting the CM.Sarma recently said the eviction drives will continue if he returns to power, with a plan to free another 5 lakh bighas of land in the coming days. “People are convinced that CM Sarma and the BJP govt can protect Assam and Assamese people, accelerating growth and development,” Upadhyay added.BJP leaders also said the bulldozers were sent voluntarily by the owners of these equipment. A new phase of the yatra is set to begin this week in Lower Assam, closer to Bangladesh, where the issue of illegal migrants and encroachment is seen as a bigger concern than in upper Assam.“People have come forward to bless the CM in various ways. Bulldozers are part of it,” Upadhyay added.