Congress spells out more promises in manifesto

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 24: The Congress today released its manifesto for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, promising to seal the Indo-Bangla intertiol border and set up inspection committees in all districts to detect illegal migrants.

It also promised steps to shift the Tea Board headquarters to Assam and make it mandatory for all tea companies to have their main offices in the State.

Days after State BJP president and Majuli candidate Sarbanda Sonowal promised to declare Majuli a district if his party is voted to power, the Congress manifesto promises to make the riverine island a 'heritage district.'

The ruling party also vowed to bring in a scheme to ensure housing for all and an ambitious plan to check erosion in the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys.

Releasing the manifesto, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi alleged that the BJP brings in its Hindutva agenda only during elections to woo the Hindu voters.

"In fact, we are the real Hindus," Gogoi asserted, also accusing the AIUDF of playing the commul card during polls.

Brushing aside speculations that the Congress is poised to battle an anti-incumbency factor in the ensuing polls, Gogoi said, "When does anti-incumbency comes into play? It is only when you don't work."

"If development is on track, there will not be any anti-incumbency. People know what we have done and what other parties can do. Yes, people want change, but for what? The people will decide the basis of the change they are yearning for," he asserted.

Gogoi also lambasted the rendra Modi government of doing nothing to address the problem of foreigners.

"In the last two years, they did nothing to address the problem. During the Lok Sabha election campaign, they had said illegal migrants would have to flee if they come to power. But in the last two years, they could not deport even a single Bangladeshi tiol," he said.