Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that he is the “most corrupt Chief Minister” in the country and accusing the BJP leadership
of facilitating corporate interests at the cost of the public.
Addressing an election rally in support of party candidate Raton Engti for the Bokajan constituency, Gandhi claimed that Sarma, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is running a “land ATM” in Assam to transfer land to big industrial houses.
“India’s most corrupt Chief Minister is Himanta Biswa Sarma, and his family is also number one in corruption. The Congress government will take action against him. Though he is boasting himself now, he will be completely silent after that,” Gandhi said.
He alleged that large tracts of land have been handed over to corporates in the state.
“Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Himanta Biswa Sarma have made a land ATM in Assam. They snatch land from the people and give it to big industrialists,” he asserted.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that three major corporate groups have been allotted 98,400 bighas of land in Assam, alleging that the BJP leadership is working in coordination to benefit select business interests.
Gandhi also accused the state government of operating through syndicates and claimed that the Chief Minister is politically dependent on the central leadership due to corruption allegations.
RAHUL GANDHI TARGETS PM MODI OVER INDIA-US DEAL
The Congress leader also criticised the Centre over the India-US trade arrangement, alleging that the agreement harms Indian farmers, small businesses and industries while favouring American companies.
Addressing a rally in Karbi Anglong earlier, Gandhi claimed the deal gives US agricultural producers greater access to the Indian market, which he said could adversely affect domestic farmers.
“You might ask why Rahul Gandhi is speaking on the US-India deal in Assam election campaigning? You need to understand where the pressure on you is being mounted. Narendra Modi signed the US deal, and he handed over four to five things to the US.”
“PM Modi opened India’s agricultural system to the US. No prime minister had ever done this before. Soybeans, pulses, fruits, and cotton have all been opened to American farmers by Narendra Modi. Indian farmers have small farms with fewer mechanizations,” he said.
Gandhi argued that American farmers operate on a significantly larger scale.
“The US has thousands of acres of farms and several mechanizations. Indian farmers will get crushed and erased,” he alleged.
He further claimed that the agreement affects India’s energy security and economic independence.
“Narendra Modi handed over India’s energy security, the oil we purchase, to Trump. Today, if India wants to purchase oil from other countries, permission is needed from Donald Trump and America,” Gandhi said.
He also raised concerns about data sovereignty and trade commitments.
“Narendra Modi handed over India’s data to Donald Trump. They can do anything they want with that data. Narendra Modi told Donald Trump that Rs 9 lakh crore worth of products will be purchased by India from American companies every year. So, small businesses and small and medium industries will be destroyed,” he alleged.
“Why did this deal happen? It happened because Donald Trump controls Narendra Modi,” Gandhi claimed.
RAHUL GANDHI PITCHES CONGRESS GUARANTEES, DECENTRALISATION
Gandhi said the Congress believes in decentralisation of power and asserted that governance in Sixth Schedule areas should be driven by local communities rather than decisions taken in Delhi or Guwahati.
“We promise to implement Article 244(A) of the Constitution fully. Karbi Anglong and all Sixth Schedule areas will be governed by the local people, not by Guwahati or Delhi,” he said.
He also highlighted the party’s proposed welfare measures, including direct financial assistance to women, support for indigenous land rights, health insurance coverage and social security provisions for senior citizens.
Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 9, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, as the Congress seeks to challenge the incumbent BJP-led NDA government in the state.
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