Rahul undertakes padayatra in Sivasagar, fires broadsides at Modi

'PM working for capitalists, RSS suppressing voice of Indian youth'

OUR BUREAU & IANS

GUWAHATI/SIVASAGAR, Feb 16: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday fired several salvos at Prime Minister rendra Modi, alleging that he has cheated the people of Assam by not fulfilling election promises, and is working to further the interests of capitalists after becoming PM.

Addressing a rally at Darbar Field in Sivasagar, Gandhi said: “He (Modi) promised to contain price rise of essential commodities when he came here before the Lok Sabha polls. However, the price of pulses has soared up to Rs 200 now. He assured to give Rs 15 lakh to each of the Indians in the country. Rs 15 lakh did not come to the Indians but only suits worth Rs 15 lakh came.”

Alleging that Modi’s policies have no place for farmers and laborers, Gandhi said: “If he comes to Assam now, he will not speak about price rise or about the issues of farmers in Assam. He will now make some new lofty promises and then forget them after the elections.”

“I am proud to be in the pious land of Sankardev and Ajan Pir. The Assam government is working with their ideals, there is no place for commulism here,” he said.

Gandhi said when Modi signed the ga peace accord, he kept the chief ministers of the Northeastern states, including Assam, galand, Manipur and Aruchal Pradesh, and even Home Minister Rajth Singh in the dark.

Highlighting the development works undertaken by the Congress government led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the last 15 years, Gandhi said: “Fifteen years ago, I remember the day when in Assam there was violence, tears and blood. Fifteen years ago, youths had no future in Assam. Today there is peace, brotherhood and friendship in Assam due to the leadership of Tarun Gogoi where four lakh youths have been employed. Besides, four engineering colleges have been set up in Assam by his government.”

Gandhi, who arrived in Assam on Monday and addressed three meetings at Gohpur, Bihpuria and Titabor, on Tuesday took part at a road show in Sivasagar. He walked six km from the historic Ahom-era Rangghar to Siva Dol with stoppages at Dwini madrassa and Lachit Park, interacting with hundreds of Congress workers, as thousands of onlookers gathered on the roadside to get a glimpse of the Congress vice-president.

The others who took part in the rally included Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, APCC president Anjan Dutta, APCC general secretary Dr CP Joshi, Congress Campaign Committee chairman PS Ghatowar, CWC member Hema Prabha Saikia, AICC secretary Avish Pandey, AICC observer Manick Tagore, Forest Minister Atuwa Munda, Agriculture Minister Rakibul Hussain, MPs Sushmita Dev, Gaurav Gogoi and zneen Faruque and MLAs of Upper Assam.

The Congress vice-president also took time out to exchange views with a few intellectuals at the Circuit House conference hall here. Later, talking to the media, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the RSS, saying it is suppressing the voice of Indian youth across the country. “They are trying to suppress the voice of the youth — be it in JNU, in Hyderabad, Lucknow and other places. The way reporters are being killed across the country is not good. RSS people are being appointed as vice chancellors in universities and reputed institutes,” he said.