BJP playing communal politics in Assam: Sonia
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said here on Friday that the BJP, which is raking up the issue Bangladeshi infiltration, did nothing to check the influx from while in power at the Centre.
Charging the BJP of playing communal politics, Mrs Gandhi said BJP leaders come to the state only before the elections.
Addressing a public rally in Khanapara, she said, “I was also aware that NDA leaders refused to help Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in tackling infiltration even after his repeated requests.”
Slamming the BJP on the Bangladeshi infiltration issue, Mrs Gandhi questioned the NDA’s failure to take any concrete measures to seal the porous borders when it was in power.
“The Congress governments at the Centre and state are sincerely working to stop the infiltration but no serious effort was seen from the earlier BJP-led NDA government,” the Congress chief said.
Asking electorates to be alert of misleading and false promises of the AGP and BJP, she said, “Politics of dividing people along lines of religion is being played here. People must recognise such parties and defeat such communal forces.”
Charging the BJP and other political parties of working only for power, Mrs Gandhi maintained that service to the people was the core ideology of the Congress, to which the party has always remained true.
Taking on the state’s principle Opposition AGP, Ms Gandhi reminded the people of the “dark days” the state witnessed during the AGP regime.
“People were afraid to go out of even homes during the day. One could not even think of development and terror reigned supreme,” she said. “But the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has changed all that and doors have been opened for peace and development,” said Ms Gandhi.
She elaborated on the various schemes being implemented for different sections of society, including for women, tribals, backward classes and minority.
Ms Gandhi said, “I am seeking votes for the Congress on the basis of the good work that the party has done for the state. The people must give Congress another chance to continue this good work.”
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Antony: LDF bastions will collapse
Idukki, April 8: Defence minister and veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony on Friday said CPI(M) bastions across Kerala would collapse in the April 13 Assembly polls as the people were keen on ending the LDF rule to regain the “lost momentum” of the state.
Addressing an election meeting of Congress candidate E.M. Agasthy in Peerumade segment in Idukki distict, Mr Antony said bringing the UDF back to power was essential to put the state on the track of fast-paced progress.
“The LDF has made the state move like a bullock-cart. It is crucial for the state to regain the lost momentum for which the UDF should return to power,” Mr Antony said.
If cash crops like rubber, tea and cardomom were fetching high prices now it was due to the policies of the UPA at the Centre, he claimed. In contrast, the LDF government did not take any initiative for the welfare of small and medium holders rearing cash crops, he alleged. — PTI
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