GUWAHATI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is campaigning in Assam has held the Bhartiya Janata Party BJP responsible for the rising unemployment problem and poverty in the state.
In a veiled attack he further alleged that the BJP has also increased the 'earnings of its friends'.
"What did this government increase? Unemployment, inflation and poverty. And, only the earnings of friends," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
His tweet further claimed that 9.9 crore people were part of the middle class before the COVID-19 outbreak and they were reduced to 6.6 crore after it.
Speaking about the Farm Bills he said that the bill was passed without a discussion. "They don't let us speak in the Parliament. However, we stand strong, we will protect you and will not step back," said Gandhi.
Gandhi interacted with the employees at the IOC Refinery in Assam's Tinsukia on Saturday. He will hold two other public meetings in Jorhat and Biswanath today.
Rahul Gandhi, who is on his two-day visit to Assam will also release the party's manifesto for the poll-bound Assam today at 4.45 pm at Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) office.
The Congress leader has earlier promised that the party will implement the five guarantees after coming in power in the state. Yesterday in a rally at Doomdooma, Gandhi boldly declared that the first duty of the Congress-ruled Government in Assam would be to raise the daily wages of tea workers to 365. Secondly, it would never allow implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Assam. Thirdly, 200 units of free electricity to every household, fourth a support of Rs 2000 to be provided to every housewife and fifth to create five lakhs employment to youths.
Assembly elections in Assam for 126 seats will be held in three phases starting on March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.