Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

AIUDF to take up burning issues during campaigning

By PRANJAL BHUYAN

GUWAHATI, March 16 - National issues like the NDA regime�s alleged attempt to subvert the Constitution, rising intolerance in the society and price rise, in addition to state-specific themes, including flood and erosion, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill-2016, and the plight of D-voters and inmates in detention camps will figure in the list of major poll planks for the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) during campaigning for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The party is looking to target the Central government�s record in the economic, security and external affairs sectors, besides focusing on topics affecting the state.

AIUDF general secretary Haidor Hussain Bora told The Assam Tribune that the party will urge the electorate to vote against what he termed as BJP-led NDA�s �communal and divisive politics� as well as the Central government�s failure to address problems affecting Assam.

�The period of NDA rule has witnessed rise in intolerance in the society, as proved by numerous cases of lynching of innocents across many states. BJP has tried to systematically undermine the Constitution of the country as well as the autonomy of various institutions. It have tried to subvert the system. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is a classic example. It is a Bill that is totally against the secular ethos of the Constitution. We will go to the electorate seeking support against communalism and divisive politics of the BJP,� he said.

The AIUDF leader alleged that the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to fulfil the promises made by the BJP in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

�The government took one U-turn after another. Where is the black money they promised to bring back? Demonetisation was a blunder which led to slowdown of India's economy and crores of people suffered on account of it. There is rampant price rise of all the commodities which the government failed to control. There is distress in the farm sector. The NDA regime failed to do anything tangible for employment generation. We will highlight the failures of the government on the economic front during our campaign,� Bora said.

He added, �In addition, we will also raise the issue of external security and rising law-and-order problem within the country. India�s security has weakened under this government. In the international arena, the country�s diplomacy has not been effective. Internally, there is rise in violent incidents and crimes, including a sharp increase in crimes against women.�

AIUDF is also looking to target the ruling party on the issue of Assam�s flood and erosion problem.

�Despite repeated demand from various quarters, the Modi government did not declare the state�s flood and erosion issue as a national problem. No steps were taken by it to tackle the twin menace of flood and erosion,� Bora said.

He added that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will be a major election issue for the Badruddin Ajmal-led party.

�It (the Bill) is a blatant attempt to divide the society and whip up communal passions in the state. We will tell the electorate about BJP�s attempt to create polarisation in Assam on religious lines. Besides, we will also highlight the plight of the D-voters and of the detainees who are lodged in the detention camps,� Bora said.

AIUDF also accused the BJP-led government of not taking steps to address the insurgency problem of Assam.

Bora added, �the recent scams in recruitment in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department (P&RD) and the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in the state will no doubt figure in our election campaign.�

AIUDF had won three out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats from Assam in the 2014 General Elections. This time the party is planning to contest from at least seven constituencies.

Next Story