'If BJP comes to power, Gogoi's era of peace will end'

Campaigning at Amguri, Congress president Sonia Gandhi takes on Modi, warns against 'divisive forces'

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR March 30: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, addressing two election rallies in the State on Wednesday, came down heavily on Prime Minister rendra Modi for "insulting the people of Assam" even as she cautioned that "divisive forces" posed a threat to the State's composite culture.

Addressing a poll rally at Amguri Auniati Hem Chandra Dev Goswami HS School playground, the Congress president took a dig at the Prime Minister for his remark about being a tea seller who sold Assam tea and said, "Modi praises Assam tea but has done nothing to improve the plight of tea garden workers."

 "Assam is a land of patriots like Kaklata, Mula Gabharu, Tarun Ram Phukan, Amiya Kumar Das and Khudiram Sut. People of this State, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, have been living in harmony as brothers and sisters for years. But some commul and divisive forces, with one and only motive to capture power in Assam, are trying to create conflict and misunderstanding," said Gandhi. "If the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance government comes to power in the State, the era of peace and development which was restored during the 15-year rule of Tarun Gogoi, will come to an end," she said.

Appealing to the people to reject those forces which play "commul politics and divide society", Gandhi talked at length about the contribution of Congress in bringing peace and prosperity in Assam. She said, "Congress is the counter-force to these powers."

"Why do these forces oppose Congress party? Because they know it well that Congress represents all sections of Assamese society. They know that in the 15 years of Gogoi's rule, Assam has emerged as a peaceful and progressive State, which they cannot stand," she said, adding that BJP's ally (the AGP) was in power in Assam twice in the past, and during that time the State was known for archy and extremism.

Attacking Modi on his assurance to bring back black money from banks abroad, Gandhi said that while Modi failed to bring back black money, his government has, however, allowed those, who had taken huge loans from banks and did not repay, to escape from the country, in apparent reference to liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

Gandhi also said that the people of Assam should tell the BJP that they would never accept a government which would interfere in their eating habits.  During her speech, she also hit out at Modi for ignoring the Chief Ministers of Northeast States including Assam before signing the ga Peace Act.

The rally was also attended by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Anjan Dutta.

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