DIMAPUR, April 3 - Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised to return everything Narendra Modi Government �stole� from the North East.
Addressing a mammoth election rally for Congress candidate KL Chishi for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland at DDSC stadium here, Gandhi said the Modi Government has taken away special status granted to the North East, North East Industrial Policy, other special provisions and want to impose Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) on the region.
�We understand you have unique challenges, unique problems and you require special status. We are committed to bring the special status back to the NE and the North East Industrial Policy,� he said.
He assured not to allow passage of CAB in the Parliament in future. He said he listened to a large number of people from NE on the Bill and could feel their pain and decided not to allow the Bill to pass in Rajya Sabha.
According to Gandhi, the Congress does not see the NE as a region but as a potential bridge with South East Asia. He said the Look East Policy has the power to completely transform the NE which has huge natural resources.
He accused the Modi Government of taking away money from NE and giving it to top industrialists of the country.
Gandhi said Congress believed that every part of India has its own way of looking at the world while the Modi and RSS want to impose their ideology on India.
He assured to protect the culture, history, identity and customs of Nagaland and the NE. He said when Nagas are not allowed to voice out, then it cannot be India. �Congress and I will not allow Nagas� way of thinking and their way of life to be crushed,� he asserted.
�We want to ensure that nobody can challenge the Nagas,� he stated. He also assured to defend the history, identity, proud heritage, culture, way of life of the entire NE people.
Gandhi reiterated the Congress will ensure that every household in India whose earning is less than Rs 12,000 a month get Rs 12,000 every month, if it comes to power at the Centre. The amount will be credited to their account every month, he assured.
Calling the minimum income guarantee scheme �revolutionary�, he said India cannot afford to have poor people in 21st century.
He said any entrepreneur who wants to start a business will not have to take permission from any government department and will be given loan.
On the Naga issue, Gandhi said it is a complex issue which involves many stakeholders. He assured to listen to all the stakeholders and try to find a solution as soon as possible. �This is a clear commitment once again to you. I will not give you empty promises,� he said.
Gandhi said the Congress does not believe in words but on deeds while Modi makes new commitment in his every speech.
