GUWAHATI, April 9 - Pratibandhi Suraksha Sangstha, Assam (PSSA), an organisation working for the rights of differently-abled persons of the State today appealed to them not to vote either the Congress and BJP in the ensuing general election.
�Both the BJP and Congress governments have betrayed us. During the rule of the BJP government we had faced police atrocities while demonstrating in support of our rights. On the other hand, the Congress did not mention our issues in their poll manifesto. Even the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly always remained silent over our demands. So this time we urge all differently-abled person to vote neither for the BJP nor the Congress,� PSSA secretary Nripen Malakar said.
Criticising the BJP, he said, �Schemes like Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan remain only in official papers and are never implemented in reality in any part of the State. Even the premises of the Directorate of Social Welfare located in Guwahati is not accessible for differently-abled persons. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured that 1,30,000 houses would be provided to differently-abled beneficiaries of Assam, but till date no one has availed the benefit.�
The PSSA leader further said, �Around 44 lakh differently-abled people of Assam are always used as vote bank by all national and regional political parties. No party has any goodwill for us and this has been proved in the recently published election manifestoes.�
He also alleged that the BJP candidate for Guwahati Lok Sabha seat is not aware of the rights of differently-abled persons, adding that it is an insult to the prestigious constituency.
