GUWAHATI, Sept 25 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi is adopting diversionary tactics to shift the attention of the voters away from issues of concern to hide the Central government�s failure on the economic front, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said here today.
Addressing a press conference, Gogoi said that Modi is indulging in �vote bank politics� and the ruling BJP is attempting to polarise the society and create divisions on religious lines.
�They want to welcome Hindu Bangladeshis, but, at the same time, they term the Rohingyas as infiltrators and terrorists. What is that if not vote bank politics?� Gogoi said.
Gogoi added, �People of the country want action to tackle price rise, they want jobs to be created, agriculture to be revived and economic growth to bounce back. Modi had promised to address these issues in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Now, however, all sections including farmers, women, artisans, small traders and students are suffering. The economy is in a mess.
�So the government is trying to put a shroud over its failures. It is attacking institutions including universities and the judiciary.�
Gogoi said that Modi is acting as a �pracharak�.
�He (Modi) continues to be a pracharak. He is still doing only publicity. There is no implementation,� said Gogoi.
He also lambasted the Sarbananda Sonowal-led ministry at Dispur, saying that the people of Assam have become disenchanted with the State government.
�In Assam, the Chief Minister exists only on paper. It is the RSS and Nagpur which is controlling everything,� Gogoi said.
He said that the condition of roads, bridges, hospitals and schools in the State is pathetic.
The Congress leader opposed the State government�s reported move to issue permits for opening more liquor shops across the State, ostensibly for enhanced revenue generation.
�Is that the only way to increase State revenue... by making people of Assam addicted to alcohol? They want to destroy Assam. Even liquor by the brand name of �Rhino� is being allowed,� said Gogoi.
He also took exception to the State government�s population policy.
�The population policy is needed, but not to victimise people belonging to one particular religious denomination. Besides, on one hand you are introducing a population policy to control population growth of the State and on the other you want to welcome Bangladeshi Hindus to Assam,� Gogoi said.
The former Chief Minister condemned framing of charges under the National Security Act (NSA) against KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi.
�This is injustice. Democracy is under threat. The government wants to silence all voices of dissent. They want to muzzle the voices of all those who oppose the government on any issue and they want to term all opponents of the government as �anti-national�. Tomorrow they may put us in jail because we opposed demonetisation. They want to browbeat all opponents.�
Gogoi called for making public the �framework agreement� signed between the Centre and the NSCN(IM) and said that the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), with Himanta Biswa Sarma as its convener, should clarify its stand regarding the boundary of Nagalim.
He further said that there is lack of coordination among the partners of the ruling alliance at Dispur and added that the Congress� position is Assam is much better than in many other states.
