GUWAHATI, Dec. 22 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the previous Congress governments at Centre of ignoring the needs of farmers for decades and said that despite farmer-friendly policies in the past 11 years by his government, more work is needed to resolve all issues. "Farmers have a big role in the goal of establishing a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and therefore our government is working day and night keeping their benefits in mind. In addition to agricultural incentives, it is necessary to ensure enough urea fertilizer for our farmers. This new plant will help achieve that," the PM said at a public meeting after laying the foundation stone of an ammonia-urea fertilizer plant at Namrup in Dibrugarh district of Assam. Modi accused previous Congress governments at centre of failing to upgrade the existing fertilizer plant at Namrup with improved technology which led to closure of some units in the complex it turn affecting urea production and agriculture output of farmers. "Congress didn't try to find a solution to this issue. Now our double-engine governments (at Centre and in Assam) are solving these problems created by Congress. Earlier, farmers had to queue up for fertilizers as many other plants across the country also shut down, and police used to baton-charge them (farmers)," he said. "Despite our hard work in the past 11 years to correct these issues (by reviving several fertilizer plants), there's still a long way to go to resolve all the bad things (that Congress governments did)," he added. The PM said that India is on the way to becoming self-reliant in fertilizer in the near future. In 2014, only 22.5 million metric tonnes of urea used to be produced annually in the country. In the past 11 years, it has increased to 30.6 million metric tonnes each year. "There's still more work to do. The country needs 38 million metric tonnes of urea annually. Hopefully we will be able to fill this gap soon," he said. Modi reminded that the Centre heavily subsidizes urea imported from abroad so that the burden of cost doesn't fall on farmers. He urged farmers to reduce the use of urea in their fields to ensure that the quality of soil doesn't suffer. He highlighted schemes like Kisan Credit Cards and others launched by the Centre to benefit farmers since 2014. The PM accused the Congress of encouraging illegal infiltration and giving them protection by opposing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "They are only hungry for power. That's why they like illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh....we have to protect Assam from this poison of appeasement. Our party, BJP, is strongly protecting your interests and of Assam," he said. The new fertilizer plant at Namrup will be part of the newly formed joint venture company, Assam Valley Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited (AVFCCL). The plant will have an annual capacity of 1.27 million metric tonnes. To be set up with an estimated total cost of Rs.10,601 crore, commissioning of the plant is expected within the next 48 months. It is expected to increase domestic urea production in the country especially in the northeast region. Once production begins, it will meet the growing demand of urea fertilizers in northeast, Bihar, West Bengal, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. The new plant will be energy efficient and open avenues for direct and indirect employment to the people of the area. Earlier in the day, Modi, who spent Saturday night in Guwahati interacted with a group 25 students from across Assam in a special edition of Pariksha pe Charcha program aboard the Charaidew barge while cruising on the Brahmaputra in Guwahati. He later visited the newly opened Swahid Smarak Kshetra, built as a memorial to the 860 people who lost their lives during the 1979-85 Assam Agitation against illegal infiltrators, and paid his respects before leaving by a special aircraft to Dibrugarh airport. From there he reached venue of the public meeting at Namrup in a helicopter. The PM is scheduled to leave for Delhi from Dibrugarh airport later in the day. The PM in his speech also mentioned about Mission Palm Oil with special focus on states in northeast. "This mission will not only make India self-sufficient in edible oil but will also increase income of farmers of the northeast region," he said....