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BJP for �relaxing lockdown a bit� for people engaged in farming, fishery

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 10 - The ruling BJP has urged the State government to consider �relaxing the lockdown a bit� for people engaged in farming and fishery in the rural areas of Assam after taking all necessary safety measures and precautions like maintenance of social distancing.

Addressing the media here today, State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that agriculture sector is the backbone of Assam�s economy.

He said farmers, vegetable growers, people engaged in fishery and other allied primary activities are facing problems in undertaking cultivation, harvesting and sale of produce as well as in procurement of animal and fish feeds.

�As such, we request the government to consider relaxing the lockdown a bit for only those people who are engaged in agriculture and fishery. This will help farmers sell their produce. The government could allow shops selling animal feed and fish feed to open. People can be allowed to engage in digging ponds for fishery. Rice mills can be allowed to operate. But while doing this it has to be ensured that safety measures are in place and social distancing is maintained,� Dass said.

Dass said that the central leadership of BJP had asked the State unit to seek the citizens� response regarding extension of the nationwide lockdown.

�As per the opinion we have received nobody has said that the lockdown should be lifted... Most of the people are of the view that they are ready to follow whatever directive the government issues after consulting experts from the health sector. People are saying that they have no problem if the lockdown is extended. They just want the government to ensure that prices of commodities are kept under control,� said the BJP leader.

Dass accused the Congress of resorting to politics over the Covid-19 pandemic. �It is unfortunate that the State Congress president recently alleged that there is discrimination in distribution of relief materials and selection of beneficiaries... We urge the Congress leadership not to politicise Covid-19 and instead to stand with the government to help the masses at the time of this pandemic. For the first time ever in Assam even families who do not have BPL cards but are not economically well off, have been provided one-time financial assistance,� he said.

Dass claimed that at some places like Baghbar and Chenga elected panchayat members of the Congress party have been arrested in the last two-three days for allegedly pilfering relief materials meant for the common public.

He added that 32,912 BJP cadres in Assam have taken responsibility to feed and provide essential items to 8,28,741 poor families during the ongoing lockdown under the �Feed the Needy� programme.

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