BJP's 'Modi' weapon will misfire in Assam too, says Jairam

'The environment policies of the Centre will also prove dangerous for the Northeast. The environment laws have been made weak and sacrificed in the interest of development.'

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Feb 3: Predicting “commulization” and “polarization” of voters in the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today said the BJP has just one “plank” for the polls which is “rendra Modi”.

“The BJP has just one plank or rather weapon – Modi. But like Delhi and Bihar, it will not work in Assam too,” Ramesh told reporters after addressing a meeting of party workers here.

He slammed the NDA government for scrapping the Special Category Status for Assam which had been there since the last 40 years.

“The environment policies of the Centre will also prove dangerous for the Northeast. The environment laws have been made weak and sacrificed in the interest of development. The Central government has also distanced itself from rural development, particularly schemes like PMGSY, IAY, MGNREGA and RRM,” Ramesh said.

He also brushed aside claims of economic development, citing the falling value of rupee.

“Industrial growth has been stable, but agricultural growth rate has dipped. The economic condition of the country was better in 2014 than it is now,” he claimed. The Congress leader also said that his party would embark on a two-pronged strategy in the election campaign – first a positive campaign focusing the key issues of the State, and the second highlighting what Modi did for the State during the last one-and-half year. Ramesh also asserted that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has changed the face of Assam in the last fifteen years.