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TEZPUR/ BISWANATH CHARIALI: AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has announced five guarantees for Assam if the Congrees alliance comes to power in the Assam Assembly elections.
Addressing a public gathering (Gana Samaroh) at Hazarapar Field in Tezpur on Tuesday, the Congress leader announced, "The Congress is not making promises, but giving you guarantees if voted power. The CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) will not be implemented in the State; 200 units of electricity will be provided for free; Rs 2,000 per month will be given to homemakers; the minimum wage of the workers in tea gardens will be Rs 365 daily, and 5 lakh jobs will be generated in the State within the next five years."
The Congress leader added, "The Congress government will enact a law to make sure that the CAA is not implemented in the State."
Priyanka Gandhi further urged the voters of Assam, "Recognise your leaders and those politicians who come and stand before you during elections and just make promises. If you don't recognise them, you won't be able to change your future for the better. So, please cast your votes carefully for a bright future of Assam. The Congress party stands with the people of the State in this fight to save Assam.
Criticising the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Priyanka said, "The Governments — both at the Centre and the State — failed to fulfil their promises in every aspect. The Government promised many things, but nothing has been fulfilled.
"Why are Assam's assets not used for the benefit of Assam? Why are they being given off to business people from outside the State?"
Stating that "the BJP has never recognised the culture of Assam and will never be able to protect it", she appealed to the masses, "Please vote for the Congress and those who are part of our 'Mahajoot' (Grand Alliance).
APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) president Ripun Borah, senior leader Debabrata Saikia, MP Gaurav Gogoi, Rakybul Hussain, Pradyut Bordoloi, Susmita Dev, and Hagrama Mohilari also addressed the gathering.
Priyanka interacts with tea garden workers: After spending the night at the guest house of Power Grid in Baghmari, the general secretary of All India Congress Committee', Priyanka Gandhi visited the Sadharu Tea Estate in Biswanath district and also the tea gardens at Biswanath Chariali on Tuesday morning.
She reached Pertupgurh Tea Estate and interacted with the women tea workers of the tea garden. She spent around 45 minutes with them and discussed their problems squatting on the ground. She also plucked tea leaves. Subsequently, she proceeded to the house of tea garden worker Amit Tasa where she took black tea prepared in a "chullah" (earthen oven) and biscuits with the family.
She also visited the temple of 'Burha Baba' at the Sadharu Tea Estate and offered prayers there.
Later, talking to media persons, she sharply criticized the government for the poor conditions of the workers in the tea gardens. She said, "It is high time the masses change the government as it has failed to fulfill the needs of the common people. The price of essential commodities has been increasing day by day which has thrown life out of gear for the common-men."
Interacting with members of women Self Help Groups (SHG) at Gohpur on Monday evening, Priyanka Gandhi stressed on women empowerment to make the country a strong nation. She also paid tributes at the statues of martyrs Kanaklata Baruah and Mukunda Kakati near Borpukhuri, Gohpur. She was accompanied by State Congress leaders Ripun Bora, Pradyut Bordoloi, Gaurav Gogoi and others.
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