MIRZA, April 8 - Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad has claimed that the Congress party would get absolute majority in Assam in the Assembly elections and bag 80 to 90 seats, which would be more than the seats won in 2011.
Speaking in an election rally at Goroimari (Chhaygaon LAC) in favour of Congress candidate Rekibuddin Ahmed, Azad launched a frontal attack on the BJP, saying that several flagship programmes of the previous UPA Government had been abolished by the present BJP Government at the Centre.
� The UPA Government had launched the Industrial Promotion Council in Assam for speedy economic development in Assam and also to create employment generation avenues, but the present BJP Government has scrapped the scheme,� Azad said.
Speaking to a large gathering, the former Union minister alleged that the BJP Government at the Centre is against the development of Assam. He said that the previous UPA Government had launched the Model School Scheme for the benefit of students, but the BJP Government at the Centre scrapped that scheme also.
Azad also attacked the AIUDF, saying that the AIUDF, which was advocating a pro-minority stand, was in fact dividing the minority vote banks to pave the way to bring the BJP to power.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also lashed out at the BJP, saying that the saffron party was alleging that Assam is thriving with illegal Bangladeshis, but the party has failed to single out even a single Bangladeshi living illegally in Assam.
�We are not protecting illegal Bangladeshis. As the Chief Minister, I have a responsibility to act against illegal Bangladeshis, but the BJP has to point out those illegal Bangladeshis to me. But they are only indulging in false propaganda,� Gogoi said.
He added that he would not allow any genuine citizen to be harassed in the name of detecting illegal Bangladeshis.
Addressing the gathering, Congress candidate from Chhaygaon Legislative Assembly Constituency Rekibuddin Ahmed highlighted the development during his five-year tenure as the MLA.
�Flood and erosion was the major problem of the people of Chhaygaon LAC. I have implemented one of the State�s biggest projects (Rs 172 crore) related to fighting erosion caused by the Brahmaputra river in Chhaygaon LAC and today, the people of Chhaygaon have got respite from the unabated erosion. I made South Kamrup a district and made Chhaygaon a district headquarters, which was a 100-year dream that has fructified today,� he said.
Ahmed said that he had brought more development to Chhaygaon Legislative Constituency in the last five years than what was done by his predecessor, Dr Kamala Kalita, in 15 years.
Ahmed requested the voters of Chhaygaon LAC to re-elect him for ensuring more development in the area.
