BJP doesn’t need the votes of sar dwellers now: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

250-ml water bottles banned

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the ban on 250-ml water in the state would be from October 2, 2023 (tomorrow), and the ban on 500-ml water bottles would be from October 2, 2024.

Speaking to the media today, the Chief Minister said, “We did plan to ban 500-ml water bottles from tomorrow. However, many local industrialists told me that they have already set up industrial units for manufacturing 500-ml water bottles. To upgrade their machines from 500 ml to one litre, they need time. Their request made the government give them one year to upgrade their machines.

The state government will provide ten percent of the total cost of upgrading their machines as a subsidy. However, the water bottles of 250 ml will remain banned from tomorrow, and the bottles of 500 ml from October 2 next year.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said clearly that the BJP does not need the votes of minority people residing in sar areas of the state. He set three conditions for the people of sar areas, and if they meet the conditions, the BJP will seek their votes.

He said, “The BJP will carry out welfare schemes, and the people can support the BJP. However, the BJP doesn’t need their votes. In the run-up to the elections, I myself will request that they not vote for the BJP now. You can vote for the BJP only after adopting family planning, stopping child marriage, and giving up the hardcore attitude. It will take around ten years, and then the BJP will seek your votes. Those who vote for me shouldn’t have more than two or three children. Those who vote for me need to send their girl children to school. They should embrace Sufism, giving up the hardcore attitude. If they fulfil these three conditions, I will seek the votes of sar dwellers.”

On the latest hike in power tariff, the Chief Minister said, “There is no hike in power tariff up to the consumption of 300 units per month. For consumption between 301 and 500 units per month, the hike is 20 paise per unit, and the hike is more for those who consume more than 500 units per month.

Also Read:   Plastic bottles below 1-litre capacity banned in Assam

Also Watch: