APCC misleading people about loan waiver and tea wages: BJP

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: "APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) president Ripun Bora is misleading the people regarding the microfinance loan waiver, tea workers' wages, and power sector reforms," read a statement by State BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) spokesperson Subhash Dutta.

Dutta stated that when Congress was in power, no steps were taken to increase the wages of the tea workers.

"After the formation of the BJP government under the leadership of Sarbananda Sonowal, the wages were increased by Rs 30. Now the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government has increased the wages by Rs 68. Meanwhile, the government is holding talks with tea garden owners to further increase the wage of the tea workers," said Dutta.

He stressed that the government has taken various initiatives to tackle the challenges faced by the tea industry.

"From 2016, the government has set up schools, constructed roads, developed playgrounds, introduced scholarships, modernized the health sector, and provided one-time assistance to pregnant women. But, the Congress didn't take any initiative during its three terms," said Dutta.

Further, he assured that the microfinance loans will be waived as promised by the BJP. He underlined that the government is discussing the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) guidelines and other legal parameters to waive the loans.

"The CM has constituted a committee headed by Minister Ashok Singhal. The committee has taken various decisions to waive the loans taken by the women. But the Congress government is misleading the people on this issue," reiterated Dutta.

Talking about the reforms in the power sector, he said that problems like inflated bills and power theft were brought to the light after the BJP came to power.

"The people are aware whom the Congress is trying to please by giving statement against the power sector reforms," Dutta added.

Also Read: Assam: Waiving Micro-Finance Scheme Loans Criteria Opposed Borrowers