Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday inaugurated the Jyoti–Vishnu International Art Centre in Guwahati, along with a series of major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening Assam’s cultural and security framework.
The Home Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed Police Commissioner’s Office, built at a cost of ₹111 crore, the Integrated Command and Control Centre costing ₹178 crore, and a state-level exhibition showcasing the three new criminal laws. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and other senior dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said that a range of programmes covering development, culture, identity and security were organised across Assam in a single day. He said the new Police Commissioner’s Office is equipped with modern facilities, while the Integrated Command and Control Centre would help translate the concept of smart policing into reality.
He added that the exhibition on the three new criminal laws aims to ensure faster delivery of justice, from sessions courts to the Supreme Court, within three years.
The Home Minister said the Jyoti–Vishnu Auditorium, built at a cost of around ₹291 crore with a seating capacity of 5,000, stands as a symbol of Assam’s development. The auditorium has been constructed in memory of two towering cultural figures — Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha.
Shah said Agarwala laid the foundation of Assamese cinema with the film Joymoti and played a key role in awakening patriotic consciousness in Assam by linking music, theatre and literature with the freedom movement. He added that Bishnu Prasad Rabha strengthened the freedom struggle by connecting workers, farmers and tribal communities through art, literature and cultural expression.
The Home Minister said Assam had emerged from a prolonged period marked by violence, blockades and unrest. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state has progressed steadily over the past 11 years and is now moving forward in step with the rest of the country.
Shah said large tracts of land in Assam had earlier been encroached upon by infiltrators, but over the past decade — particularly during the last five years — around 1.29 lakh bighas of land have been cleared of encroachments. He alleged that a law introduced in 1983 to settle infiltrators had posed a threat to Assam’s culture, language and identity, and accused the opposition of engaging in vote-bank politics.
He said the government remains committed to protecting Assam’s art, culture, music and language, and asserted that peace has been restored in the state through agreements with various militant groups. As a result, he said, more than 10,000 youths have surrendered arms and returned to the mainstream.
Shah said Assam is now witnessing rapid industrial growth, infrastructure development and a revival of tourism, with Kaziranga emerging as a major destination. He added that initiatives such as the statue of Lachit Borphukan and the construction of a memorial for martyrs of the Assam Movement reflect efforts to preserve the state’s heritage and history.
