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Cong protests against BJP �failure� to solve flood, erosion

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 3 - Opposition Congress party today staged demonstrations across Assam in protest against what it termed as failure of the BJP-led Central and State governments to tackle the flood and erosion problems of Assam.

Congress workers held protests at the block level and burned copies of alleged �list of promises� made but left unfulfilled by the Central and State governments.

In Guwahati, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) held a demonstration on the Rajiv Bhawan premises. It was led by APCC president Ripun Bora. The participants sat on a dharna and shouted slogans against the BJP-led governments.

Speaking to reports at the protest site, Bora said, �Today�s agitation is specifically related to the flood and erosion problems of Assam. The BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not fulfilled even a single promise made by them to the people of the State to tackle the twin menace of flood and erosion.�

He said Prime Minister Modi had visited the State on August 1, 2017, following the devastating floods of that year and announced an immediate release of Rs 2,300 crore for the northeastern states.

�Modi had also announced immediate release of Rs 400 crore for anti-erosion measures in Assam, Rs 250 crore for immediate relief and rehabilitation of Assam�s flood victims and Rs 100 crore for undertaking a study of Brahmaputra�s floods. Not a paise has been released though three years have passed since then. In October 2016, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced that expressways will be built along both banks of the Brahmaputra at the cost of Rs 1,00,000 crore as part of the anti-flood measures. Nothing has come of it. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had said that dredging of the Brahmaputra will be carried out. Besides, in its Vision Document and election manifesto, the BJP had promised to solve the flood and erosion problems of Assam. All these have turned out to be false promises,� Bora said.

He added that 50 lakh people have been affected by the latest wave of floods in Assam and over 100 persons have lost their lives.

�But, forget about the Prime Minister, not even a single Central minister has bothered to visit Assam till now to take stock of the situation. They (BJP) only announce policies. They never implement them. Not even special grants or regular flood relief funds have been sanctioned by the Centre for Assam,� said the State Congress president.

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