The Assam Congress, on Thursday, accused the BJP governments at the Centre and the state of ignoring plight and sufferings of the common people as it is busy grabbing power. 

“…the BJP Government keeps on ignoring the problems and suffering of the people while being busy grabbing power at any cost,” Assam Congress leader Bobbeeta Sharma said in a statement. 

The Assam Congress leader also hit out at the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government in the state saying that “people of the state are finding it hard and extremely difficult to make ends meet”. 

“According to data from the Public Affairs Index 2021 (PAI), the BJP’s handling of governance in Assam has led to the state slip to 14th position among 18 states of the country, a matter of deep concern and shame for the people of the state,” Assam Congress leader Bobbeeta Sharma said. 

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She added: “The economic downturn during the BJP rule in the country, combined with escalating prices of goods, has made daily life of the people unbearable.” 

Assam Congress leader Bobbeeta Sharma also hit out at the central and state governments over rise in suicide cases. 

“According to NCRB data, the increase in farmers’ suicides has been pegged at 18% while that of daily wage earners suicide has touched 37666 individuals annually, even as students’ suicides increased to 21.20%,” Sharma said. 

She added: “A total of 3243 people in Assam were forced to commit suicide due to the Covid situation. There has been an increase of 36% in the rate of suicide from 2019 to 2020. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Assam occupies 5th rank among states in terms of suicide cases. Still, the BJP government has been indifferent to the concerns of the people.” 

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Speaking on the unemployment issue, Bobbeeta Sharma said that the Assam government under the leadership of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, thus far, has failed to take necessary steps to address the matter. 

“Since the BJP came to power, the rate of unemployment has increased rapidly in the state as well as the country. Before the elections, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma had promised jobs to 25 lakh unemployed youth but we have not seen any steps being taken in this regard. The BJP government is pushing the youth towards a dark future,” Assam Congress leader Bobbeeta Sharma said. 

The Assam Congress leader also hit out at chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over state’s position in the health sector. 

Notably, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had been holding the portfolio of health minister for a long time, before he became the CM of Assam this year. 

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“Assam’s Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has been talking about a river Ganga like flow of development in the state but even the Health Department which was under his responsibility for a long time has been proved to be in a state of doldrum,” she said. 

Sharma added: “While the BJP Government has been making announcements of setting up medical colleges one after another, reality is that there is a lack of 1382 doctors across the state. Along with growing Maternal Mortality, Assam stands in third position in terms of Infant Mortality rate.  80 out of every 1000 new- born infants die in Assam. Till date there are no Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in hospitals in 16 districts of the state.” 

“…time has come for the BJP Government to stop misleading the people of Assam with false promises and get down to the real business of governance that will touch every aspect of people’s lives,” Assam Congress leader Bobbeeta Sharma said in a statement on Thursday.