DIBRUGARH, March 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it hurts that the Congress, which ruled the country for 50-55 years, was aligning with forces that are attempting to bring disgrace to Assam tea and yoga.
“As I have come here, I can’t stay for a single moment without expressing something which is causing me pain within. I am disturbed that the Congress, which is the oldest and ruled the country for about 50-55 years, is openly supporting those seeking to wipe away the identity of the country’s tea,” Modi said addressing a BJP election rally near Chabua.
“Can we ever forgive the Congress? Are we going to punish them or not? Shall we allow them to wipe away tea from the world? Those hatching conspiracy against tea must be taught a lesson during this election,” he demanded.
Modi said the Congress is playing with the self-respect and pride of Assam tea and with the lives of tea workers and the people of Assam will never forgive them.
“They are supporting the makers of ‘toolkit’ who are hatching a conspiracy to destroy Assam tea and yoga. The makers of the ‘toolkit’ are seeking to cause losses to the tea industry and the Congress is endorsing these groups,” he said.
“Under such circumstances, how can the party ever think of asking votes from the people of Assam? We never expected that the Congress could stoop so low to protect their political foundation,” Modi added.
The Prime Minister also criticised the Congress for allegedly circulating photos of outside the State as photos of Assam’s. “Congress has moved away from the people of Assam. Few days ago, they circulated a photo from Sri Lanka and said it was Assam. A week later, they shared a photo from Taiwan and said it was Assam. Is this not an insult to the beautiful state,” he asked.
Lauding the development works of the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government in the State, Modi said the BJP has undertaken welfare works rapidly in the plantations by disbursing financial assistance to tea garden workers, their children and by increasing wages, providing medicines, establishing schools, and reaching out to the pregnant women.
He also informed the gathering that the government at the Centre has earmarked an amount of Rs 1,000 crore in its budget for the workers of tea gardens.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also addressed the gathering. He said the Prime Minister was making tremendous effort to develop Assam. In the last five years, he has done so much for the State that the people of Assam will remain grateful to him. “The Prime Minister also made Assam proud by giving the Bharat Ratna to Bhupen Hazarika,” he said.
