ডিব্ৰুগড়ত নাগৰিক সন্মিলনৰ গণ অভিৱৰ্তনত গৌৰৱ গগৈয়ে ক’লে, 'এইবাৰৰ নিৰ্বাচন অসমৰ ৰাইজ বনাম ৰজাৰ মাজত হ’ব’

▪️ “This Election Will Be Between the People of Assam and the Raja”: Gaurav Gogoi at Gan Abhivartan in Dibrugarh

Guwahati, 2 January: “This election will be between the people of Assam and the Raja (ruler).” Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi said this today while addressing the “Mass Convention” organised by the Dibrugarh District Citizens’ Forum at Amolapatty Natya Mandir in Dibrugarh district, demanding the protection of democracy and citizens’ rights.

He further said that the Constitution has given Indian citizens not only the right to vote but also the right to criticise injustice and wrongdoing by the government. “Democracy is impossible without the right to question. Everyone has the right to question and evaluate different political parties. The people also have the right to question the government. Citizens have the right to know what kind of work the government is doing in the fields of health, education and infrastructure. But this government does not want to give rights to the people. It does not want to empower the public. Their political ideology is like that of old kings. A Maharaja is sitting in Delhi, and in every state where they are in power, they have installed a ruler,” Gogoi said.

He added that a ruler occasionally distributes some goods among subjects to project himself as benevolent, and then helps only those who maintain good relations with him. “The same behaviour is seen everywhere under this government,” Gogoi said.

He further stated, “This ruler-like government has given some schemes to the subjects. Distributing public money through schemes is the duty of every government. But this time we are seeing that conditions are being attached to these schemes. If you want to receive benefits, you cannot belong to another party, cannot attend another party’s meeting, cannot question or criticise us. If you do so, your benefits will be cut. This is their behaviour, this is their arrogance.”

Gogoi said it is extremely unfortunate for a democratic country that the BJP, assuming it will remain in power forever, is running the government through threats and intimidation. He also said that the Congress party likes to remain among people from all sections of society.

“We want to once again remind people about the difference between their power and the real strength of the people. Those sitting in Delhi and Dispur cannot sit there forever. If the people unite and become alert, they can remove them from their chairs in a second. But the people must unite,” he said.

Gogoi alleged that whenever people try to unite, this government resorts to divisive politics. “Sometimes in the name of religion, sometimes language, sometimes Upper Assam–Lower Assam, between Karbi and non-Karbi, Bodo and non-Bodo, Mising and Ahom, Moran and Chutia, the BJP tries to destroy unity by creating divisions,” he said.

He appealed to the people not to fall into the BJP’s trap and urged them to remain alert about the party’s strategies. “Their aim is to divert our minds and keep us away from real issues. The BJP wants us to spend our time discussing only the topics they decide,” he said.

Gogoi also said that conscious citizens must create awareness so that common people can understand these conspiracies. He added that making people aware is the responsibility of every conscious citizen, and that political parties, social organisations, conscious individuals and journalists must rise to this call of the time.

Warning people, Gogoi alleged that the government has taken loans worth lakhs of crores of rupees to blackmail the people of Assam and, instead of creating employment, is focused on creating beneficiaries. “We will stop this politics of threatening people in the name of schemes in the coming Assembly elections. We will bid farewell to this kind of politics in Assam. Schemes existed earlier and will continue to exist, but those who deserve them must get them irrespective of party affiliation. Better schemes will come in the future, but we will not ask which party you belong to. Poor people must get benefits. This is the duty of a democratic government,” he said.

He alleged that the BJP government thinks its job is done just by giving schemes. “Giving schemes means government schools can be shut down, village roads can be allowed to deteriorate, liquor shops can be opened in villages, stone, coal and sand mafias can be allowed to run syndicates everywhere. Does giving schemes also mean buying gardens everywhere in the name of family members?” he questioned.

He further asked whether giving schemes means getting licences to open 17 companies in the name of one’s son. “Governments existed earlier and exist now, and schemes will also exist. But what does an ordinary citizen of Assam want? When they go to a hospital, there should be doctors, machines should work, medicines should be available, and treatment should be provided in government hospitals. What does a poor person want? If injustice is done, the police should promptly register an FIR and investigate. What does a common family want? The road to their children’s school should be good, teachers should teach properly, and teachers should receive regular training to impart modern education,” he said.

“These are citizens’ expectations. People want to educate their children in Assam, get quality healthcare, receive help from the police and administration, and get their work done without paying bribes. This is what citizens expect from the government. But this government thinks giving ₹1,000 somewhere, ₹500 to some, ₹6,000 to others is enough, and does nothing else. Hospitals are built without doctors, flyovers are built for big contractors, embankments collapse within a year. This is the BJP’s way of working,” Gogoi said.

He added that while Assam should be among the top five states in human welfare, it is instead among the bottom five, whereas Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has managed to enter the list of the richest Chief Ministers in India. Urging people to be alert, Gogoi said, “We must be clear and explain things to the people. The unemployed are not getting jobs, poor people cannot buy land, cannot get their names included under Basundhara. They are doing politics only for their own interests.”

Stating that a decisive battle lies ahead, Gogoi said the people of Assam will no longer tolerate this. He also said alliances will be formed respecting the people’s call. “An alliance among various opposition parties is 100 percent certain. We need everyone. Everyone must unite. This election is not party versus party, nor opposition versus BJP. Once again, I say, this election will be between the people of Assam and the ruler,” he concluded.

Notably, along with Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Jatiya Parishad President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, Raijor Dal General Secretary Dhairya Konwar, members of civil society, social workers, and a large number of leaders and workers of the Opposition Unity Platform were present at today’s mass convention.

▪️ Media & Communication Department
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee
PR/APCC/M-26/0002