Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 10 made a statement regarding the religious identity of India’s political leadership, asserting that while the Constitution does not restrict who can become the Prime Minister, the nation’s civilisational ethos would ensure the post is held by a Hindu.
“There is no constitutional bar. Anybody can become the Prime Minister of India,” Sarma said. He added, however, that India is fundamentally a Hindu nation rooted in Hindu civilisation and expressed confidence that the Prime Minister would always be a Hindu. His remarks reflect a view of India as a civilisation state, an ideological perspective often highlighted by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
On the same day, a high-level review meeting was conducted to assess preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Kaliabor, Assam, on January 18. Officials reviewed arrangements for key programme components scheduled during the public event.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is expected to lay the foundation stone for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, a flagship infrastructure project estimated at ₹6,957 crore. The project will be executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. An audio-visual presentation highlighting the project’s major features will follow the foundation stone ceremony.
The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor is part of the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh stretch of NH-37 (new NH-715). The project includes approximately 34.45 km of elevated, wildlife-friendly corridors and bypasses at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat. Designed in line with court directives and the recommendations of the Wildlife Institute of India, the initiative aims to enhance connectivity between Central and Upper Assam while protecting the biodiversity of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project is expected to be completed within 36 months.
Additionally, the programme will feature the virtual inauguration of two new Amrit Bharat Express trains: the Dibrugarh–Gomti Nagar (Lucknow) route and the Kamakhya–Rohtak route.
