Congress is synonymous with corruption: Smriti Irani

From a Correspondent

Bokajan, March 31: With opinion polls painting a rosy picture for BJP, the saffron party is confident of forming government and has intensified its poll campaign all over the State with the Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani addressing a poll rally on Thursday at CCI playground here in 17-Bokajan LA constituency.

Addressing the mammoth gathering, the Union Minister called to bring about a change and urged people to put a united fight against the Congress government in the State to usher changes in the society with equal development of all sections of people.

Further assailing the Congress, the Union Minister said, “Earlier the UPA government only looked at Northeast under ‘Look East’ policy. But, as part of the BJP-led Central Government’s ‘Act East Policy’, development in all spheres in the north-eastern region has been prioritized through the establishment of Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER) ministry.”

In a bid to lure the young voters, the Union Minister said that the Congress government had failed to generate employment avenues for the youth. The Minister was quick at making reference to PM’s ‘Mudra Loan Yoja’ and appealed all youths to become self reliant by availing loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh without keeping anything as collateral under the scheme.

Emphasizing women empowerment, the Union Minister said “The BJP government is committed to ensuing safety of women in and outside the confines of her home.” She also made announcement of the five crore free-of-cost LPG connection to poor women in three years to help women escape the ill-effects of chullah-cooking. The Minister even promised a woman police station in each district to ensure safety of women in all respects if the BJP formed government in the State.

Launching a scathing attack on the lofty promises of the health department in Assam and the absence of medicines and duty doctors in the government sponsored hospitals, the Union Minister said that Assam Health Department’s much hyped ‘Good Health for All’ has only became a farce in today’s context. The common man’s right to proper treatment at government hospitals of the State has remained a far cry and if BJP came to power in the State, it would accelerate work of the proposed Diphu Medical College and would provide the poor people with a fully equipped medical ambulance and a super-specialty hospital in each and every subdivision within the State. The Minister also said that the Centre had already announced setting up of AIIMS in Guwahati a year after coming to power which was otherwise in the 10-year regime of the UPA government.

Terming Congress synonymous with corruption, Irani lambasted the State Agricultural Department for alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore Central funds meant for development of agriculture and the poor farmers, which had directly landed in the pockets of the corrupt Congress leaders. The Union Minister appealed the gathering to give Congress a fitting reply by voting for BJP to ensure progress of the State at par with rest of the country.

Irani was here to campaign for the saffron party’s candidate Dr Numal Momin. The rally was attended by galand Chief Minister TR Zeilang, galand Home Minister Yanthungo Patton, besides gaon MP Rajen Gohain and other party workers.