Addressing his first public meeting at Assam’s Guwahati ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the PM blamed previous governments for failing to ensure development while reviving India’s glorious past at the same time.

“Civilizations which used to be very prosperous till 200 years ago, now lie in ruins. Unfortunately, those who ruled the country for long after independence failed to recognise the importance of religious places. For political gains, they created a trend of feeling ashamed of one’s own culture and past,” Modi said, in an indirect jibe to the Congress.

“No country can become developed by erasing, forgetting its past and by cutting its roots. I am satisfied that in the past 10 years, the situation has changed in India. The double-engine government of BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] has made both development and heritage (Vikas and Virasat) part of its policy,” he added.

Modi said that the outcome of such a policy can be seen in rural areas of Assam, where places of faith and history have been boosted with modern facilities. This has happened concurrently with a focus on development, he said.

“Youths of the country have got direct benefit from our focus on development and heritage. There’s enthusiasm in the tourism and religious pilgrimage sectors these days,” the PM said.

He cited the examples of over 85 million devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath