Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the BJP of spreading hatred and urged voters in Assam to support change.
Addressing a rally in Assam’s Biswanath, he alleged that Prime Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP are dividing communities, engaging in corruption, and failing to fulfill earlier election promises, while asserting that the Congress aims to unite people and bring development.
“Assam is the land of Srimanta Sankardev, Gopinath Bordoloi, Bhupen Hazarika, Azaan Peer and Zubin Garg. None of these leaders spread hatred or divided people and united everyone,” Gandhi said.
He said CM Sarma has the record of being the most corrupt person in India, a person who spreads hatred and makes irresponsible statements. “He is making such statements because he realizes that Congress will put him in jail. Then he will come folding his arms and ask for forgiveness, but there will be none from us or from the people,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader added that unlike the BJP, his party does not spread hatred and instead works to unite people and spread love. “Assam is like a bouquet of different flowers where different communities live and speak different languages. Its strength is brotherhood and love,” Gandhi said.
He added: “But the Prime Minister turned the state into an ATM by handing over large areas of land to large industrial houses in exchange for a commission, and he even implicated his family in corruption.”
Gandhi spoke of the “unfulfilled promises” of the BJP in the last elections, such as Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities, credit $15 lakh in bank accounts, and an increase in daily wages for tea garden workers in Assam $350.
“We are not here to make such false promises. I assure that we will give ST status to six communities and we will deliver $450 per day for tea garden workers,” he said.
He highlighted the five key guarantees in the Congress statement, including an “unconditional” cash transfer to women’s bank accounts every month and the establishment of a separate account. $50,000 each to start the business.
Other key promises are $25 lakh health insurance coverage for all families, justice for Zubin Garg in 100 days, permanent land records for 1 lakh indigenous people, and $1,250 every month for senior citizens.
Gandhi is scheduled to address two more election rallies in Golaghat and Kamalpur on Sunday. Voting for 126 seats in Assam is scheduled to take place on April 9, with the counting of votes to take place on May 4.
