GUWAHATI, Sept 19 - Congress members today staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the Meghdoot Bhawan, office of the Chief Post Master General, Assam, here, in protest against the decision of the Union Government to discontinue the postage stamps printed by the Postal Department in memory of former Prime Ministers, Late Indira Gandhi and Late Rajiv Gandhi.
The Congress members also protested the decision of the Union Government to discontinue the postage stamps published by the Postal Department in memory of noted filmmaker Satyajit Ray, renowned scientists Homi Jehangir Bhabha and CV Raman and pioneer industrialist JRD Tata.
In the memorandums to the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Communication on the issue, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Anjan Dutta described the decision as �an act of political vindictiveness.� This reveals the hatred among the ministers of the BJP Government towards towering personalities like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, �who immensely contributed towards building a modern India,� Dutta said, adding, �The politics of hatred and vindictiveness is not healthy for a thriving democracy like India.�
He further said that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi not only contributed towards building a modern India, but were martyrs who lost their lives at the hands of the forces that were posing threats to the internal security of the country.
�The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee strongly feels that the action of the Department of Posts is a fallout of the pressure tactics applied on the members constituting the Philatelic Advisory Committee to execute the agenda of the BJP-RSS combine led by Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi to sidestep and expunge a powerful legacy of sacrifice and selfless nation building that is alien to the BJP-RSS on account of their non-participation in the great Indian freedom struggle and nation building,� the APCC president said in his memorandums.
Advocates join Cong: Over 200 advocates from different parts of the State, including some practising in the Gauhati High Court here, joined the Congress at a function held at the Rajiv Bhawan, headquarters of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), here yesterday, said the APCC in a statement here.
Addressing the function, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that for those who want to keep the unity of the people intact, uplift the condition of the poor and protect the interests of Assam, the Congress is the only party. This has been amplified by the advocates joining the Congress on their own, he said.
He also reiterated the resolve of the Congress to resist the communal forces.
APCC president Anjan Dutta welcomed the advocates into the party fold.
