Guwahati: Congress president Sonia Gandhi here on Thursday said that discriminatory attitude of the Modi-government was the biggest stumbling block in development of Assam.
Addressing an election rally at Sarukhetri in lower Assam’s Barpeta district Mrs Gandhi said that Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi fought against the discriminatory treatment of BJP government to ensure the pace of development.
She reiterated, “Congress is the only party that takes along all communities without any discrimination.”
"The danger of communalism is looming large over Assam as the BJP is engaged in spreading communalism and dividing the society which has thrived for ages on the principles of love, peace and harmony," Gandhi said.
Warning electorates against the communal design of BJP led alliance, Mrs Gandhi said, “When abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks of peace and development, but after returning home he is silent on hate comments of his colleagues.”
Lauding the performance of the Gogoi government, the Congress president asked, “What have they done for small businessmen? They have only increased the burden of tax on them.” She also regretted that BJP government was curtailing fund in most of the development schemes that UPA government had introduced for the welfare of poor and downtrodden. Coming down heavily on BJP for making false propaganda to woo the voters, Mrs Gandhi questioned as to what happened to their commitment of generating employment and containing the skyrocketing price-rise.
She also accused that if BJP led alliance is voted to power RSS would be running the government in Assam from Nagpur.
Meanwhile, soon after BJP leaders intensified their anti-foreigners rhetoric for second phase of polling, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi launched his counter offensive accusing BJP and RSS of being more concerned of ‘Bharat’.
In an obvious attempt to give a spin to outsiders and insiders issue, Mr Gogoi told reporters, “It's an issue for RSS. Congress' concern is the people of the country. I work for all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. My job is to take all the communities in society towards development and security.”
Bogged down by charges of BJP accusing him of patronizing infiltrators Mr Gogoi said, “If we have been protecting foreigners, why the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not issued show cause notice to the state?”
“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can prove that I have protected and given shelter to a single illegal infiltrator from Bangladesh, I will quit politics. If they can't, let them quit too,” dared Mr Gogoi.
Pointing out that BJP government at the centre could not take out time to discuss foreigners issue in last two years, Mr Gogoi said, “Why does BJP always talk about infiltration before the polls only and then remains silent ? Himanta Biswa Sarma was the Assam Accord implementation minister in my government. Doesn’t that imply that he gave them protection?” said Mr Gogoi accusing BJP led alliance of misleading the people in their campaign.
Mr Gogoi reminded that his government initiated the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in the state to separate foreigners from Indians. He also claimed credit for completing the fencing on Indo-Bangladesh border.
Mr Gogoi also targeted chief ministerial candidate of BJP Sarbanada Sonowal while accusing him of trying to bring change only through false propaganda and slogans.
Mrs Gandhi was in Assam to address election rallies in second and final phase of polling on Monday. She also addressed an election rally at Jagiroad in central Assam's Nagaon district.
