Dima Hasao Congress scoffs at PM's claim on 100 pc rural electrification

A Correspondent

Haflong, May 1: The Dima Hasao District Congress (I) Committee has strongly objected the claim of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that electrification in rural India was 100 per cent, terming his claim as fake since in Dima Hasao only 50per cent villages had been electrified till date. Several Congress leaders at a press meet held at Rajiv Bhavan on Tuesday, categorically criticized the BJP-led government for misleading the people of India by claiming 100 per cent electrification in India and said that rural electrification was started during the Congress rule and was carried out through grid and a good number of villages were covered.  Now the APCDL, which is supposed to be the nodal agency, has failed to provide facts and figure regarding rural electrification in Dima Hasao.

The press meet was attended by Daniel Langthasa, Salminthang,  Depolal Hojai, Aripom Bodo, Jack Daolagupu and other Congress leaders. They said that the Congress-led UPA government launched the rural electrification scheme Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana in April 2005. Under the RGGVY scheme, the UPA government electrified 1,08,280 villages to the grid between 2005-06 and 2013-14. On an average the UPA government electrified 12,030 villages per year. In 2015 the BJP government renamed the UPA scheme RGGVY to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). Under the scheme, the BJP identified 18,452 villages for electrification. The list prepared by BJP was not inclusive at all, leaving out many villages of Dima Hasao. During the financial year 2017-18, BJP achieved only 26 per cent by which it electrified only 1,156 villages.  On an average, the BJP government has electrified 4,842 villages only, which is less than half of the UPA government’s average.

All the speakers said that an important person of the country like the Prime Minister should not mislead the public of the country with false information, particularly in regards to rural electrification. They also appealed to the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Member to order enquiry on providing misinformation about Dima Hasao.