GUWAHATI, Dec 23 - In his first public appearance in Guwahati today after assuming charge as the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president, Lurinjyoti Gogoi sounded the political bugle for the upcoming elections, asking the people to gear up for April 2021 and give a befitting reply to those imposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on them. The former AASU general secretary, who received a public felicitation at the historic Andharubali near the statue of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, said that once again it was time to defeat the forces that tried to destroy the Assamese pride.
Gogoi, who lit torches on the bank of Brahmaputra to take a pledge for protecting the indigenous identity, said the people of Assam would guide the regional party and monitor its activities. �As the time draws closer, challenges would also multiply. Already we are witnessing the politics of Rs 830 per month, which is no different from the �yarn and blanket� politics of the previous regime,� he said while referring to the BJP government�s flagship direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme Orunodoi.
�However, we must remember here that even if we get free rice, we have to buy potatoes at Rs 60 per kg and onions at Rs 80. LPG connection is made free, but rates of domestic cylinders go up regularly. Fuel prices are rising and the tall promises of creating 23 lakh employments are biting the dust.
The government should answer as to why there are question paper leaks and scams, whenever the exams for government posts are held.
�We need to see through the politics of Rs 830 to understand how our productivity has suffered, with no market for our produce and the flourishing syndicates everywhere. Assam, which had a per capita income higher than the national average after independence, does not have to depend on freebies; rather, it wants its pride and productivity back,� he added.
Gogoi also targeted the culture of communal politics and asserted that the AJP would try to bring back the culture of quality politics in Assam. He also rapped the Union government for its utter disregard to the Clause Six committee report.
�The Centre has not yet got time to look into the high-level committee report � implementing it is a distant dream,� he mentioned.
AJP general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said that after strengthening its structure in the Upper Assam, the AJP is all set to create a robust base in the Lower Assam districts.
�The AJP is looking beyond the divisive and communal politics of Hindu-Muslim, Assamese-Bengali, etc. Each and every person who considers Assam as their motherland should come together with us to work for this greater cause,� he added.
Former AGP leader and Patacharkuchi MLA Pabindra Nath Deka, who has joined AJP as its working president, said that when external forces are acting as Mughals at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the State needed another Lachit Borphukan to protect Assam.
�The AGP has totally lost its regional character and sided with the divisive forces,� he added.
AJP conveners Prof KG Bhattacharya and Basanta Deka, expressed their faith in the leadership qualities of Lurinjyoti Gogoi and asked the people to extend their full support to the new regional party.