BJP ‘charge-sheet’ against Assam government

Dump Congress in
Brahmaputra, exhorts BJP
From Our Special Correspondent

In 2001 the people of Assam were taken in by the glib talk and promises of Congress. Today, they feel cheated and duped during the last five years of Congress misrule.

In an India Today survey 2005, Assam ranked last at No. 18 among the Indian States in the poverty reduction index, proper growth index and in fastest economic growth.

In a 10-point charge-sheet issued against the Tarun Gogoi Congress government, BJP has damned it for “non-performance, belied poll manifesto promises, misgovernance, turning a blind eye to the rapid demographic distortion, ignoring the threat perception of the ISI and Al Qaeda, blatant minorityism, the obsession to retain the IM(DT) Act at all costs, corruption at all levels of administration with no attention being paid at all for the welfare and well being of the masses and their development”.

10-Point charge-sheet

The most prominent charge is the protection extended to Bangladeshi infiltrators, ISI and other anti-national activities. In 1995, the then Chief Minister Shri Hiteswar Saikia had to admit that there were 30 lakh Bangladeshi Muslims in Assam. Recently, Union Minister of State for Home, Shriprakash Jaiswal admitted that there were 50 lakh infiltrators in Assam. Yet, the Assam and the UPA government turned a blind eye to the problem for narrow electoral gains.

As per the world Press and Indian media reports, there is a potent ominous design to convert Assam and North-East into a greater Islamic State.

BJP has throughout been demanding the scrapping of IM(DT) Act. During its reign it presented a bill in Parliament to scrap it but its passing was delayed through the then Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. It was as a result of the stand taken by NDA in Supreme Court that led to the Act being scrapped by the highest court as “unconstitutional”. For its narrow vote-bank politics UPA has surreptitiously amended the Foreigners Act as far as Assam is concerned, to help these illegal migrants because Congress needs their votes during the coming elections.

Failure to solve Insurgency Problem

The Tarun Gogoi Government in its 2001 election manifesto had promised to bring about a permanent solution to insurgency in the State. In reality it did nothing apart from paying lip service in this regard. It is on record that two prominent Cabinet Ministers of the State, Shri Bhumidhar Barman and Shri Bharat Narah were found hand in glove in aiding and abetting the terrorist outfits.

The recent custodial death of a youth identified as Ajit Mahanta in Kakopathar in an Army operation and the equally barbaric killing of 9 persons in police firing highlights the high handedness in dealing with sensitive issues.

On the peace talks with the outlawed organisations, like ULFA, the charge-sheet Government says, “The Union Home Ministry in apparent contradiction favours direct talk with ULFA which only expresses doubts and questioned the sincerity of the Central Government.” The BJP charge-sheet underlines, “Dialogue can be fruitful if the Centre first comes forward with cease-fire agreement with ULFA on the pattern of its process with NSCN(IM), NSCN (K) and DHD.

Did not generate employment

When the Congress came to power in 2001 it had promised great opportunities for employment . “Shockingly , it not only failed to deal with the unemployment scenario in the State but created more serious problems leading to addition of another 6 lakh unemployed youth in the State”. The number of registered unemployed in Assam on February 2, 2006 stood at 17,38,330.

Pushed Assam into darkness

On power front too the Government has failed miserably. The charge-sheet says , “No steps whatsoever have been taken by the Government for generation of power to meet the growing demand of the people and industries. The ASEB has become a white elephant with low productivity far below its installed capacity.

Neglect of Adivasis

Blaming the State Government for over taxation BJP charge-sheet says “Cess on green leaf and taxes on finished products, sharp rise in land costs, unchecked extortion by anti-social elements from the gardens are some of the factors for financially crippling the tea gardens.” It has forced the Tea worker to resort to violent approach thereby forcing some of the gardens to resort to lock-out and leaving the State for good.

Failure to check price rise

Assam is the highly taxed State in India. The people in Assam pay more for almost every thing in comparison to those living in neighbouring States. The cost of LPG cylinder and kerosene oil is the highest ever. The Charge-sheet observes , “kerosene in rural areas costs Rs. 30 per litre and that too is not available easily” and “the entire Public Distribution System has been paralysed in the State.”

No basic amenities

The Municipalities and Town Committees mostly run by the Congress have totally failed to provide basic amenities. “Road, light and drainage system in the towns of Assam have completely collapsed.”

Financial position collapsed

Assam BJP charged the Congress Government with absolute financial mismanagement, reckless and wasteful spending of public funds in schemes aimed at electoral gains. The State Government has resorted to various unproductive schemes with funds borrowed from the Central Government, Asian Development Bank, Insurance Companies and other sources. “As a result of this imprudent borrowing of the State Government, every citizen of Assam carries a debt of Rs. 5,701 on his head”, BJP charged.

Corruption all pervasive

The Congress came to power in 2001 making promises of a corruption-free, clean and transparent government. In reality it has turned out to be the most corrupt Government in the history of Assam.

The charge-sheet enumerated numerous cases of corruption almost in every Department of Government, be it Mid-day meal Scheme, crude oil scam, recruitment of Police constables, Public Works Department, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Check-gates and Toll gate scandals, Water Resource Department, Health, Agriculture, Irrigation, Social Welfare, Forest and Education Departments, the Pollution Control Board, misappropriation of Central funds for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in Panchayati Raj Institutions.

In the end, BJP exhorted the people of Assam to throw out the incompetent, inefficient and injudicious Government lock, stock and barrel into the Brahmaputra in the interests of the State and support the BJP to save Assam from disaster.