Guwahati: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday vehemently criticised the Opposition for its inability to offer constructive solutions and instead resorting to misleading rhetoric.
Sonowal, vying for Assam’s Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat, alleged that since the era of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress has given Assam and the northeast minimal support to prosperity or security, neglecting the welfare of its people. He underscored the alleged atrocities inflicted upon the Assamese people during the Congress rule, accusing the party of instigating division within the Assamese society and fuelling violent conflicts.
Sonowal also criticised the grand old party for the alleged brutal suppression of movements such as the Assam movement. He questioned the credibility of the Opposition, which has aligned with the Congress, to secure anything but the rights of the Assamese people.
Addressing a rally at Dibrugarh’s Tingkhong, Sonowal said, “Congress imposed the draconian Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) (IMDT) Act only on the people of Assam and not the whole country. CAA is an all-India Act, unlike the IMDT Act, that was passed by the Congress to compromise the security of the Assamese people.”
“The Congress government has jeopardised the interests of the ‘Khilonjiya’ (indigenous) people in pursuit of power, relying on the support of the non-citizens. Any objections to CAA can be legally contested, as evidenced by the ongoing appeals in the Supreme Court. The government welcomes such challenges and is prepared to abide by the court’s ruling, whatever it may be. However, those who persist in sowing confusion among the populace will be held accountable to the public in due course,” Sonowal said.
Criticising the I.N.D.I.A bloc, Sonowal said that the Congress-led Opposition did not deserve a response about his identity as an “Asomiya” (Assamese).
“I am an Asomiya by heart, by spirit and by work. Challenging the oppressive IMDT Act, I took the battle against it to the Supreme Court without hesitation. Throughout the six-year struggle, I never wavered in my resolve. Eventually, the top court ruled the Act as discriminatory against Assam,” he said.
“Despite being part of the same nation, the Congress subjected the Assamese people as second-class citizens. My aspirations extend beyond merely holding political positions like an MLA or MP, but my foremost duty is to advocate for the national issues of Assam. Protecting the rights and interests of the Assamese people remains my paramount objective, regardless of the position I hold,” he added.
Moving forward, Sonowal said that his goal is to elevate the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency to one of the finest in India and to emerge as a pivotal constituency within the country.
“This constituency, comprising ten assembly segments, boasts of a rich heritage. During the British era, it witnessed the establishment of the first tea estate in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia region. Abundant in resources including coal, timber, tea and mineral oil, this area was once a hub of global trade. It commemorates 200 years of Assam tea, a testament to the toil of the revered tea workers of Assam. The invaluable contribution of tea workers is etched in our collective memory,” Sonowal further said.