STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, said Assam is once again returning to the path of violence under the BJP’s regime.
“I fear Assam is returning to the path of violence because of the BJP’s policies. Wherever the BJP goes, it spreads hate. In Assam, youth is protesting, in other States protests are happening as well. Why do you have to shoot and kill them? BJP doesn’t want to listen to the voice of people,” Gandhi said.
Addressing a rally designed as ‘Ashtitwa Rakhyar Samabekh’ at the playground of College of Veterinary Science at Khanapara on Saturday afternoon, Gandhi said his prediction about the outcome of the BJP’s rule in Assam has come true.
“I had told that if the BJP came to power in Assam, it will finish peace, progress and brotherhood in the State. Such a state has already taken place. You (the people of Assam) taught me about the tradition of brotherhood, respect for each other and taking everyone along the path of progress. But today, I am sad and afraid that your State is going again to the path of violence,” Gandhi said, adding that Assam cannot progress with hate that the ruling party is spreading.
Rahul Gandhi asserted that the historic Assam Accord had brought peace to the State and appealed to the present regimes in Delhi and Dispur not to violate the spirit of the Accord. He said the Congress vehemently opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament.
“The BJP and the RSS will not be allowed to attack the culture, language and identity of Assam and the Northeast. Assam will not be run by Nagpur, the State will be run by its people,” he said.
Gandhi alleged that the BJP’s divisive & communal politics and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s friendship with a handful of corporate leaders has ruined the country’s economy.
“In the last 45 years, India is currently witnessing the biggest number of unemployed. Modi had promised to give jobs to 2 crore youths. But lakhs of youths are losing their jobs now. Through GST and demonetization, the BJP government had collected Rs 3,50,000 crore from the people. The Prime Minister, however, distributed the amount among his few corporate friends instead of waiving farmers’ loans,” alleged Gandhi.
After the rally, Gandhi accompanied by senior Assam Congress leaders visited the respective houses of the two youths who had died in police firing during the recent anti-CAA protests and met their family members. The youths are Sam Stafford, a teenage student at Hatigaon in the city, and Dipanjol Das of Chaygaon in Kamrup district.