Prime Minister Modi Honors Assam Agitation Martyrs During Visit

Tribute to Martyrs at Swahid Smarak Kshetra

Guwahati, Dec 21: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the martyrs of the Assam Agitation at the newly opened Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Guwahati, marking a poignant moment during his two-day visit to the state.

Accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and various dignitaries, the Prime Minister toured the martyrs’ gallery at the memorial, which features busts of individuals who lost their lives during the six-year-long anti-foreigners movement.

He also placed a garland on the statue of Khargeswar Talukdar, recognized as the first martyr of the movement, who passed away on December 10, 1979.

"Today is a momentous occasion for the people of Assam as PM Modi visited the Swahid Smarak and honored the 860 martyrs of the Assam Movement. I believe this visit will bring global attention to the Assam Movement and its martyrs," stated Education Minister Atul Bora at the memorial.

The memorial, which was inaugurated earlier this month at a cost of Rs 170 crore, features an eternal flame in remembrance of the 860 martyrs of the Assam Agitation, which concluded in 1985 with the signing of the historic Assam Accord.

The complex includes water bodies, a prayer hall, an auditorium, a cycle track, and facilities for a sound-and-light show that narrates significant events of the movement and Assam’s history.

Earlier in the day, Modi arrived at the Guwahati Gateway Terminal of the Inland Water Transport, which was recently inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and took a cruise on the Brahmaputra.

Onboard the three-deck vessel “M V Charaidew 2”, the Prime Minister engaged with students as part of the “Pariksha Pe Charcha” initiative.

Twenty-five students from various schools across Kamrup (M), Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Sribhumi, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Kokrajhar, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Nalbari districts participated in the 45-minute interaction.

Security measures were heightened along the river, with personnel from the River Police, NDRF, and SDRF deployed since early morning.

In light of the Prime Minister’s visit, ferry services on the Brahmaputra were suspended for two days starting Saturday.

Modi is currently en route to Dibrugarh on a special flight, where he will lay the foundation stone for the Namrup fertiliser plant and address a public gathering in Hapjan.