Nazira/Tingkhong/Khowang, Apr 1 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday took a swipe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that “only one family is looting” everything in the resource-rich state, while the people “don’t have anything”.

In back-to-back poll rallies, Vadra alleged that the BJP-led NDA government is functioning by threatening the people.

“One family is looting everything in Assam. And when they are not looting, mines, lands and every other asset are being handed over to big industrialists,” Vadra claimed.

Alleging massive corruption on every front during the BJP-led government in Assam, she raked up old scams such as Saradha, Smart City and NC Hills.

“The BJP said they have given a double-engine government. In reality, it is a ‘double-ghulami’ (slavery) government. PM Modi is engaged in slavery of America’s (Donald) Trump and Israel’s (Benjamin) Netanyahu, and Himanta Biswa Sarma is engaged in slavery of Modi,” she claimed, addressing an election rally at Nazira in support of Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia.

She also attacked the BJP-led government in the state for failing to fulfil the promise of hiking the daily wages of tea garden workers and providing basic amenities.

“Various tribal communities have been demanding ST status for years. The BJP had promised to accord ST status to them, but they failed to give it,” the Lok Sabha MP said.

The Congress leader also alleged that women of the state were forced to attend the rallies of the PM and CM with threats that their names would be removed from various government schemes, especially ‘Orunodoi’.

“The money given under the schemes is not Himanta Biswa Sarma’s money. That is public money and every citizen’s money. Government schemes don’t operate like this.

“PM Modi and CM Himanta are ruling the country and state with fear and threats. Our fight is against that fear, and for protecting Assam’s culture, civilisation and freedom of expression,” she asserted.

Addressing her second election rally at Tingkhong in support of party candidate Bipul Gogoi, Vadra said Assam has land, mines, history, nature, forest and every other resource.

“This land has given you everything. But still, the people don’t have anything. Only one family is prospering in Assam. Everything is being looted in front of your eyes. The BJP government has betrayed people,” she told the gathering.

The Congress leader alleged that the state is being run by “mafias and syndicates”.

Vadra also said that musician Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore in September last year, was the voice of Assam, and he sang for brotherhood, unity and love.

“But the Assam government has not given any justice to his family. We want to bring in a government which will give justice to Zubeen Garg within 100 days,” she asserted.

In her third rally at Khowang for ally Assam Jatiya Parishad’s candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi, Vadra alleged the governments in Assam and the Centre are run by “cowards”.

“Modi and Himanta are cowards. They are running the government by threatening the people,” she alleged.

The Congress leader asserted that there has been no improvement in people’s lives during the last five years of the BJP-led government in the state.

“People’s problems and dangers have increased in the last five years in Assam. The inflation is at its peak, and every essential item is unaffordable. There is no job for youths who are going outside the state for employment,” she claimed.

She also claimed that the prices of petrol and diesel will be hiked after the elections due to the ongoing war in West Asia.

She said this assembly election was like the freedom struggle to protect the rights of the Assamese people.

Speaking to reporters later on Garg’s death, Vadra said, “I honestly believe that such things should not be politicised. But when there is a demand among the public that somebody whom they revered and respected is not getting justice, then also, as politicians, isn’t it our duty to say that we are going to make every effort to give justice? “How is that politicisation? It is our duty. We cannot ignore the voice of millions and millions of Assamese people.” She was reacting to the BJP’s allegation that Congress has politicised Garg’s death by including the issue in the election manifesto.

“We have all seen at the time of Garg’s death what he meant to the people of Assam. How can we ignore it? At least it is our job to say that we are going to try to make every effort to give justice to his family.

“After all, when you lose a person, what is it that you want? Thousands of Assamese people believed that he was part of their families. What do they expect? They just expect justice,” Vadra said. PTI TR TR SOM