GUWAHATI, June 10 - Assam has performed exceptionally in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and the State has set an example in this regard, said the ruling BJP today.
Addressing an online meeting of the party�s �Shakti Kendra� in-charges of Assam, BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, said, �Till the time of total lockdown, the COVID-19 cases in Assam were very few in number. However, since relaxation in the lockdown and resumption of train and domestic flight services, the number of cases has gone up.�
�But, the situation is under control. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have handled the situation very well. We have been hearing of the so-called �Kerala model�. We recently heard of the �Bhilwara model� of Rajasthan. But, without doing any undue publicity, Assam has set an example for the rest of India in controlling the situation,� said the senior leader.
He added that BJP does not believe in undertaking �branding� exercises.
�Whenever there is any crisis, our party cadres reach out to the masses to help them. We are not like Uddhav Thackeray or Rahul Gandhi. Our effort is always on how to manage the crisis. Since the onset of the pandemic and till today, Assam has carried out 1.2 lakh tests. The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Assam is very low. The entire administration has put joint effort to handle the problem,� said Santhosh.
He said that nationally as well the death rate in India from COVID-19, at 2.8 per cent, is among the lowest in the world.
�As of now, the number of recovered cases is more than the number of active cases. This has been possible due to the right steps taken by the government of Narendra Modi,� said Santhosh.
He claimed that over 80 crore citizens have directly benefited from various economic relief schemes announced by the Central government in the wake of the pandemic.
�Prime Minister Modi has urged all Indians to rise to the occasion and use this challenge as an opportunity to make India Atmanirbhar or self-reliant. We should be duty-bound to make India self-reliant,� said Santhosh.
The BJP leader added that out of the Rs 3 lakh crore economic package announced by the Centre last month, loans worth Rs 20,000 crore have already been sanctioned and Rs 10,000 already disbursed in the period between June 1 and June 10.
The Central government will also announce a major scheme for street vendors, whose business have been affected on account of the pandemic and the lockdown, within the next three to four days, he said.
He exuded confidence that BJP and its allies will be able to retain power in Assam next year.
�But, we must not be complacent. To secure the first position once is easy, but to secure it for a second consecutive time is very difficult. So, for us, it will mean doubling our efforts. Our target is to win at least 100 seats for the BJP and our allies,� said Santhosh.
He said that the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government has performed very well in the last four years and called upon the BJP cadres to spread out among the voters and inform them about the achievements of the administration.
