Congress sounds poll bugle in BTAD, Gogoi slams BJP

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, March 18: The Congress on Wednesday organized a grand public gathering at Dwimalu field in Kokrajhar town with a view to lure voters ahead of the BTC election.

Addressing the huge public gathering, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the BJP was trying to come to power in the BTC but people should realize that the BJP had failed to fulfil its commitments. He said Prime Minister rendra Modi showed a lot of hope to the people through his mantra Achhe din anne wale hain (Good days are coming), but neither the prices of essential commodities had come down nor had there been any development in the region. He said the BJP was only full of big talk but the Congress worked for the development of the people.

 “BTC’s development started only when we come to power 14 years back. BTC was created by us and so we took care of it. Now, we (Congress) will take all 40 seats of BTC and if we come to power in the council we will work for the development of all communities,” he said adding that the Congress would also emerge victorious in the 2016 State Assembly election. “The BJP which is trying to elimite the Congress everywhere is instead facing severe predicament within the party,” said Gogoi and added that there was no force which could finish the Congress.

He said that Rupth Brahma of Kokrajhar was associated with the Congress and became MLA and minister for a long time and Ranendra rayan Basumatary, former Congress minister from the same district brought enormous development in the lower Assam region. He also said for the fast development in BTC region, the Congress should be strengthened.  

APCC president Anjan Dutta said the Congress would fight alone in the BTC election. He the Congress would look after the problems of Rajbongshis, Adivasis and other communities in the region. He also slammed BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy for his anti-Assamese remarks during his recent visit to the Sate and asked why the State BJP had failed to take action against the commul leader.

Dutta said that it was only the Congress in the State which had enhanced the salary of the teachers, lecturers and other government employees, who otherwise were receiving salary between Rs 7,000-Rs 15,000, were now receiving salary between Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

Dutta said that the Congress had provided widow pension, aid to mothers during child delivery and development schemes for people. He further said that his party had created jobs for unemployed youths and provided assistance to SHGs in the State.

BTC Congress coorditor Sandi Basumatary said the people of the region did not benefit during the BPF rule and the time had come to throw the BPF out of power.

The gathering was also addressed by Ministers Rockybul Hussain, Chandan Sarkar, former minister and present MLA Siddique Ahmad, Parliamentary Secretary Rekibuddin Ahmad and attended by former Congress MLA Wazed Ali Choudhury and others. Former BTC MCLA Rajen rzary was also seen in the meeting as he was likely to join the Congress today.