Guwahati: Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who on Tuesday kicked off the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Assam, said that his party stood for the people of the region whenever it was required.
Referring that Congress was instrumental in blocking the controversial citizenship bill Mr Gandhi said, “The present unrest in the northeast was due to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which is anti-Northeast.
Congress stopped it in the Rajya Sabha. We stood by you whenever it was required. We will also ensure that no genuine Indian is left out of National Register of Citizens.”
He also assured that Congress would also protect the culture, history and language of the Northeast if voted to power.
Addressing the public rally at Khanapara, Mr Gandhi said, “Mr Modi promised several things to Assam’s tea gardens and it’s labourers, but did nothing. We will ensure minimum wage to the tea labourers. I have fulfilled all my promises and I will fulfill this too.”
Accusing the saffron brigade of disturbing the harmony, Mr Gandhi said, “The BJP-RSS ideology is burning every state of the Northeast. They are attacking your lifestyle, culture, language and history.”
Exuding confidence that Congress party will come to power at the Centre, the Congress president said, “Congress is not only going to win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but will also win all the seats in Assam.”
He also promised to restore ‘special status’ to Assam and bring back the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP). While assuring to open the two Jagiroad and Cachar paper mills, Mr Gandhi regretted “BJP snatched away the rights of the people of the northeast. We’ll do everything to restore them.”
Referring as to how Congress governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh waived the loan of the farmers, Mr Gandhi said that Congress party would declare the perennial problem of flood as national problem.
Accusing the BJP government of not doing anything to improve the quality of education in the state and region, Mr Gandhi said, “If we are voted to power, Assam will become the hub of technical education in the northeast.”
Before addressing the public rally Mr Gandhi also visited a private nursing home where two Arunachal Pradesh students who were injured in Itanagar violence are admitted for treatment. Arunachal Pradesh Congress president Sanajy Takam accompanied the Congress president in the hospital and apprised him about the brutal treatment of BJP government with protestors in Arunachal Pradesh.
