Congress Focuses On Assam And The Northeast Issues

GUWAHATI: The Congress has reiterated that it would provide the special status to the Northeast States, revive the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), oppose the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), ensure that names of all genuine citizens of India are included in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), provide ST status to the six communities of Assam and also reopen the two paper mills of HPC in the State. These were some of the main points in the manifesto booklet on the State released by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora here today. Earlier the national manifesto was re-released at the same meeting by Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.

The booklet titled ‘Amaar lakhya amaar pan’ (Our aim our pledge) is being brought out by the APCC focusing especially on Assam and the Northeast. It highlights programmes and agenda to be implemented in Assam if the Congress is voted to power. Stating that the party is not against Hindu Bangladeshis, the manifesto however added that “it opposes the CAB and all illegal foreigners. All foreigners must be identified as per March 25, 1971 — the date mentioned in the Assam Accord”.

On the NRC, the party manifesto said that it would “complete the register having the names of all Indian citizens.”

If voted to power, the Congress will include all the 108 sub-tribes of the tea garden populace in the ST list along with those of the other six communities, the manifesto said.

Stressing on the all-round development of Assam, the manifesto focused on the following points: Land pattas would be allotted to the landless STs and SCs in the State; backlogs in government sector would be filled up; reconsider ‘The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Right) Act, 2016’; constitute a separate ministry for the tea industry; bring about a legislation determining the minimum wages for the tea garden workers; ensure political rights of the local Muslims in Assam and also create a separate directorate for them.

The party would consider the demand for an autonomous State within Assam by taking into account the three hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. It further assured more progressive boost to the BTC Accord, enhance financial assistance to the Autonomous District Councils in acknowledgement of their importance to the NE States.

On the Barak Valley, the Congress would activate the separate secretariat; build a bridge over Barak River at Silghat, and also establish a super-specialty hospital at par with AIIMS there.

It also focused on women empowerment, unemployment, skill development, agricultural, floods and erosion, education, health, forest, drinking water, communication, cottage industry, sports and the film industry.

Among those present in the meeting were the chairman of the State Manifesto Committee, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and former Chief Minister Bhumidhar Barman.

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