"Will revive Cachar and Jagiroad paper mills after winning election": Rahul Gandhi

Indian National Congress president, Rahul Gandhi kicked off his election campaigns in Assam. While addressing a rally in Khanapara veterinary ground yesterday, the Congress president said he is confident his party will form Government in 2019.

The Congress supremo went on to say that he is confident that Indian National Congress will win all the Lok Sabha seats in Assam in the upcoming elections. As per reports, more than one lakh people gathered to listen to the Congress president. In his address, Rahul Gandhi slammed the RSS and accused the organisation of spreading hatred and disturbing peace. He said, “The RSS ideology is burning the whole Northeastern region.”

His speech was filled with promises and was cheered all throughout. He said, “BJP is attacking your language, culture, lifestyle, history,” and then promised that after Congress regains Delhi, the centre will work towards protecting the identity and integrity of the indigenous people of the region.

He then accused BJP of snatching away rights and jobs from the people of Northeast and said, “We will bring them back for you. We will restore the Special Status and bring back North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP).”

Gandhi said, improving the condition of industries in Assam will be his priority and that is something Congress would start working on immediately after winning the Lok Sabha elections. “We will revive the defunct paper mills in Jagiroad and Cachar,” he asserted.

Mill workers have welcomed Rahul Gandhi’s assurance to restart the two defunct paper mills in Jagiroad, Nagaon and in Panchgram. Manabendra Chakraborty, chief convener of the Paper Mill Revival Action Committee sharing his reaction to Rahul Gandhi’s assurance said, “We are hopeful and confident since Rahul Gandhi Ji intervened the government may recognise their commitment or the people of Assam are waiting for extending a befitting reply in the upcoming elections. Our struggles will continue till the Industries are revived and employment opportunities for future generations are ensured.”

Chakraborty added, “Our Prime Minister made a commitment to revive the Paper Industries on March 27, 2016, before huge rally at Kalinagar but instead of fulfilling his promises he is making attempts to hand over the national assets to private corporate houses which is a betraying act against the people of Assam & defaming the constitutional position of the Prime Minister’s Office.”

Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP State Government for the hooch tragedy in Golaghat and Jorhat. More than 120 (mostly tea estate workers) lost their lives after consuming illicit liquor are close to 400 are still admitted in the hospitals. Reaching out to the people especially voters in Assam’s tea belt, Rahul Gandhi said, “Narendra Modi made big announcements for tea gardens but did nothing. Congress assures it will guarantee minimum wage to every estate worker.”

BJP won seven seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections while Congress managed to win only three of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies. In the 2016 Assembly elections, BJP toppled Tarun Gogoi Government after winning 60 out of 126 seats. Congress was down to 26, but after the Citizenship Amendment Bill row Congress is trying to regain its foothold, and Rahul Gandhi’s promised filled speech is a step in that direction.