Congress has dumped Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi's ideology: MP Dilip Saikia

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The national general secretary of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and also Member of Parliament (MP) Dilip Saikia on Monday accused the Congress of dumping the ideology of Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi by forging an alliance with the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front).

Speaking to The Sentinel, Saikia said that Congress stalwart Gopinath Bordoloi had saved Assam from being included in the present Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) by taking a bold political stand. He, however, alleged that the same party (Congress) is now hobnobbing with the forces which pose a threat to Assam's indigenous culture, language, identity, land and other natural resources.

"The alliance of the Congress with the AIUDF is evident of the fact that the Congress supports those who promote the 'Miya' language, museum and school. Instead of following Gopinath Bordoloi's ideology, the Congress is now embroiled in an anti-Assam conspiracy so that Badruddin Ajmal can become the Chief Minister of the State. The Congress is kneeling down before the aggressors of Assamese culture. We will explain these things before the voters because the BJP wants to safeguard the identity of the Assamese people. The BJP will foil the anti-Assam conspiracy of both the Congress and the AIUDF," stressed Saikia.

Stating that "the Congress-led 'Mahajoot or 'Grand Alliance' will not harm the BJP", Saikia asserted, "The people of Assam will support the BJP's broad nationalistic vision."

On emergence of the 'Assam Jatiya Parishad' (AJP) and the 'Raijor Dal' (RD) as regional political forces, the BJP leader branded both these political parties as the "B team of the Congress-AIUDF alliance".

He further alleged that those at the helm of affairs in the AJP and the RD emotionally misled the people of Assam with their agitation against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). The masses have understood their motives during the last one year.

"The hidden agenda behind the anti-CAA movement was to give birth to a political party. However, their agitation has given birth to two parties — the AJP and the RD.

"What is more, supported by the Congress and the AIUDF, a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam was also elected. This happened due to the unholy alliance between the Congress and the AIUDF.

"Voting the AJP and the RD will imply supporting Badruddin Ajmal to become the CM of Assam. I appeal to the people not to be swayed by emotions but to use their conscience while casting their votes," said Saikia.

Responding to a question as to why the electorates should again vote for the BJP, Saikia said that the government of the BJP-led alliance has developed Assam in several sectors during the last five years. He alleged that several years of the Congress regime earlier were marked by misrule, corruption and conspiracy to endanger the culture, language, identity, land and other resources of Assam.

"The Congress had been exploiting the people by ignoring the core issues of the State. Their woes, grievances and frustration against the Congress's rule were addressed by the 'Vision Document' that the BJP prepared during the 2016 Assembly elections. Soon after coming to power in 2016, our government started fulfilling all the promises that we made in the 'Vision Document'.

In the place of 60-year misrule of the Congress, the BJP has given peace, progress and social security to the people of Assam in just 60 months. We have followed the principle of 'Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Biswas and Sab Ka Vikas'. Caste, creed, community and religion are not the criteria when the BJP government carries out development activities. We will approach the voters with our development works; and the masses will be convinced to repose their faith in the BJP," asserted Saikia.

Responding to a query about reports of some resentment and conflicts in the BJP over the distribution of tickets, the national general secretary of the saffron party said, "The BJP has many ticket aspirants. But the aspiration of the party workers is one. We are a cadre-based party and we never compromise with our principles. Some party workers and leaders may have grievances over ticket distribution. We will address their grievances and work as the 'BJP Team'," replied Saikia.

He rather alleged, "The Congress has a tradition of having conflicts over the distribution of tickets by the party. This is happening inside the Congress this time also.

Asserting that the BJP-led alliance will win 100-plus seats, Saikia claimed that the alliance will get more seats this time as compared to the 2016 Assembly elections.

"We are a strong cadre-based party having 26,000 booth committees, 6002 Shakti Kendras, 399 Mondal Committees, 39 district committees, 42 lakhs workers and 4 lakh Pristha Pramukh. Victory and defeat do not bother us. Every day, we work with new enthusiasm and zeal. We do not do politics only to grab power. We work to build a strong nation, serve the masses and ensure good governance to fulfill the aspirations of the people," pointed out Saikia.

Dilip Saikia is emerging as one of the most-promising BJP leaders from the North East in the national politics. He joined the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) in 1986. He served the ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) in various capacities from 1991 to 2002 – both at the national and State levels.

Saikia joined the BJP in 2002 and became the party's State media convener in 2005. He served the State branch of BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuba Marcha) as its president from 2007 to 2009. He became the State BJP secretary from 2009 to 2012; and was re-elected for the same post from 2012 to 2015. He was the spokesperson of the State BJP from 2015 to 2016. He was the general secretary of the State BJP from 2017 to 2020.

The political career graph of Saikia continued to rise when he became the MP from Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. He became the national BJP general secretary in 2021. Saikia is currently the BJP Prabhari (In-Charge) of Arunachal Pradesh and Chattishgarh.

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