GUWAHATI, Nov 2 - Accusing the Congress of using the tea community as mere �vote bank� for decades, the BJP on Monday claimed that the Sarbananda Sonowal government in Assam has undertaken a lot of welfare activities for benefit of the tea tribes.
�The Congress, which ruled the state for decades, used the electorate belonging to the tea community as a mere vote bank. We, on the other hand, have worked for inclusive development. The Congress deprived members of the tea tribes of even the chance to get proper education. It only gave false promises. Our government is focusing on social, educational and economic development of the tea community,� state BJP chief spokesperson Rupam Goswami said at a press conference.
�With the Assembly elections approaching, the Congress has now once again started resorting to drama and subterfuge. The newly appointed All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh arrived in Assam yesterday (Sunday). He spoke to members of the tea community. Jitendra Singh�s speech proves that the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) failed to brief him properly. The factionalism within the APCC has come out to the fore. Maybe Jitendra Singh was not made aware of the fact that the Congress ruled Assam for most the post-Independence period. The problems facing the tea tribes would not have existed till now if the Congress had provided good governance during its time in power,� he added.
Goswami claimed that the Congress has given up any hope of regaining power in Assam.
�The post of AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam was earlier graced by influential leaders like Digvijaya Singh and Harish Rawat. Now an inexperienced and junior leader like Jitendra Singh has been given the position. We believe that the AICC has admitted the fact that the Congress is now in no position to bounce back to power and form the government in Assam. The Congress has given us a walkover. Jitendra Singh�s appointment proves that,� he said.
He said several welfare schemes have been launched by the Sonowal government for the tea community.
�Among these are pre and post-matric scholarship for students, skill development and entrepreneurship grants for youths, financial assistance scheme for higher education by tea tribe students, water supply schemes at tea garden areas, sports and youth welfare activities, health care schemes, new roads, special schemes for women, facilitating 7.5 lakh out of the eight lakh garden workers to open bank accounts for financial inclusion, grant of Rs 12,000 each to one lakh pregnant women from the tea community, establishment of 80 mobile medical units for tea garden areas, distribution of over 11,800 smartphones to the line sardars, assistance to self-help groups and now construction of 119 model high schools at tea gardens,� Goswami said.
