GUWAHATI: In poll-bound Assam, Home Minister Amit Shah visited the Maha Mritunjay Temple at Bherbheri, Nagaon as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a spree of inaugurating projects and laying foundation stone before the model code of conduct comes into effect with the announcement of election dates.
This is the fourth visit of Shah to the state this year.
The construction of the World's largest Shiva Linga started in 2003 and the site of the temple is believed to be the very place where guru Shukracharya performed yajna in ancient times.
Present alongside Amit Shah in the 'Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav' of the Shiv temple were Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal and state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
After three days of the puja, by around 250 priests of Tamil Nadu, the Maha Mritunjau Temple will be opened for the devotees from February 26 onwards.
"Assam that was known for agitations, weapons & violence is now known for development, industrial investment, education & tourism. But this journey is incomplete. It's the first step in the new era of development started by Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi," said the Home Minister.
"We have to make Assam flood-free, infiltrator-free and violence-free. We have to make Assam and the entire northeast the biggest GDP contributor of the country," Union Home Minister Amit Shah further said in Nagaon, Assam.
Shah will also be launching Rs 150 crore state-funded beautification project of the Batadraba Than, the birthplace of Srimanta Shankardeva at Nagaon today.