Priyanka Gandhi ridicules Assam govt functioning, says two CMs are running state

GUWAHATI: Senior Congresswoman Priyanka Gandhi today claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has installed two chief ministers in Assam, making an oblique reference to Himanta Biswa Sarma.

 

"You were told (by the BJP) that you will get a chief minister who will run the government from Assam. What you got, instead, are two chief ministers. Make no mistake about it, the Assam government is being run from Delhi," she asserted, adding that the current chief minister -- Sarbananda Sonowal -- has been "weakened."

 

Taking a jibe at BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad, she said that the party has lost its autonomy. "They are unable to get anything done without taking permission from their overlords in New Delhi."

 

Gandhi further alleged that the BJP's policies are not meant to benefit Assam, but instead, to strengthen New Delhi and give more power to its industrialist 'friends.'

 

Addressing a public rally in Upper Assam's Jorhat, Gandhi said she was shocked to hear the PM speak about a 22-year-old and a tweet.

 

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"He alleged that the Congress party has hatched a conspiracy. He was also sad when the Congress posted two pictures by mistake. But why was he not saddened when floods occured in Assam? Why did he not express his sorrow when Assam burned over the 'CAA.'," she added.

 

Lambasting the prime minister over "breaking promises made to the people" ahead of the 2016 elections, she said, "The BJP made several promises. They said 25 lakh jobs would be generated. They said that they would protect the jaati,maati, bheti of Assam -- but have they truly come through? They also promised to implement the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to protect Assamese identity. They again said they would not implement the 'CAA.' On top of that, they promised that many benefits would be given to the tea garden laborers."

 

"Has the PM ever visited a tea garden? Met women workers there? Doesn't the PM feel their pain as his promise of giving ₹350 per day as a daily wage to tea garden workers has not been fulfilled yet?" she asserted.

 

"Everybody talks about Assam's culture -- be it someone from the Congress or BJP. But when I met the tea labourers and talked with them, I realized that they are the ones who are saving your culture," Gandhi said, adding that the tea tribes have been hard done by as their wages have not been raised as promised.