Sivasagar (Assam) Accusing the BJP and RSS of dividing Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that his party will protect every principle of the Assam Accord and will never implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act if voted to power in the state.
Addressing his first public rally in Assam ahead of the assembly elections due in March-April, Gandhi said that the state needs its “own chief minister” who will listen to the voice of the people and not one who listens only to Nagpur and Delhi.
“The Assam Accord has brought peace and it is the protector of the state. I and my party workers will protect each principle of the Accord. There will not be a single deviation from it,” he said.
Gandhi said illegal immigration is an issue in Assam and exuded confidence that the people of the state have the capability to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Alleging that BJP and RSS are trying to divide the state on the issue of Assam Accord, he said, “If Assam is divided, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah will not be affected, but the people of Assam and the rest of India will be affected.”
Talking about the controversial CAA, the senior Congress leader said that if his party comes to power in the state, the law will not be implemented under any circumstance.
All party leaders, including Gandhi, were seen wearing ‘Gamocha’ (Assamese scarf), where symbolically the CAA word was crossed, giving a message against the controversial law.
Gandhi said Assam needs a chief minister from their “own people” who will listen to their issues and try to resolve them.
“Remote control can operate a TV but not a CM. The current CM listens to Nagpur and Delhi. If Assam gets a CM like this again, it will not benefit the people. The youths need a CM who will give jobs to them,” he said.
Taking a dig at the prime minister, the Union home minister and “businessmen close to them”, Gandhi said, “I have devised a new slogan for Assam — Hum do, humare do; Assam ke liye humare aur do, aur sab kuch loot lo.”
He alleged that natural resources and PSUs in the state are being “sold off” to two leading businessmen of the country.
Gandhi also accused the Modi government of “looting” public money during the COVID-19 pandemic and waiving huge amounts of loans of his “two businessmen friends”.
He said that the Congress government under the leadership of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi had brought peace to Assam by ending the era of violence.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi resurrects ‘hum do, hamare do’ slogan to attack Modi govt on farm laws
“If voted to power…” is the operative term. Is it ever likely to happen? Even if it were to happen the congress CM has to listen to the Voice from Delhi, thanks to the I Command culture of congress.
BJP is really lucky to have Rahul around. He is so important to both Congress and BJP. Its very rare to see something like this.
It goes without saying. If CAA is implemented, the Congress votebank would reduce to half of what it is right now.
I am confused. Rahul Gandhi says he won’t implement CAA if Congress wins Assam. Shah says he would implement CAA if BJP wins West Bengal. CAA pertains to granting citizenship to those persons belonging to religions other than Islam , who were being persecuted in foreign countries like Pakistan and have migrated to India due to the persecution. Was the law necessary when citizenship can be granted to anybody even without passing any law? How many persons are awaiting grant of citizenship in this manner? Has the government compiled any state-wise data? Will the citizenship be granted en-mass without making any enquirers? What will be the procedure? Those who oppose CAA want the benefit to be given to Muslim immigrants too. Again, how many Muslim immigrants want this benefit? Is there any data? Every party is taking a politically convenient stand without talking about any specifics.
Before the CAA amendment, citizenship could be granted only by the Central Government. CAA enables even the Deputy Commissioners or Collectors of the districts to grant citizenship to the eligible migrants within their territorial jurisdiction. In any case, there is nothing in CAA which is going to work against the Indian Muslims.
If our leaders feel anarchy is better than democracy, should we move to amend our constitution accordingly?
Gandhi said Assam needs a chief minister from their “own people”
Wouldn’t Indian use the same criteria for India & ask you are you our own under that criteria?
People living in glass house should be throwing stones at others.
Those circumstances are very unlikely to arise as Congress can never win Assam, having thrown it away themselves.