Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making U-turns on important issues concerning Assam, like pushing back illegal immigrants, Subansiri Dam and land deal with Bangladesh, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said people are fed up with his false promises of ushering in 'Achche Din'.
Gogoi said the large turnout in public rallies and padyatra of party vice president Rahul Gandhi during his two-day visit to the state indicated that the wind is blowing in favour of Congress in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
"Fed up with false pre-poll promises of the Modi Government to usher in 'Acche Din' and U-turns on major issues concerning the state, the people have rallied behind the Congress knowing it is the most secular, pro-poor and development oriented party," Gogoi said.
"The Modi Government has squeezed the flow of funds by withdrawing the Special Category status, changing the funding pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes and flood management programme, suspending North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, reducing MGNREGA, IAY and other 'pro-poor' schemes funds," Gogoi said in a statement.
"The Prime Minister has taken U-turns on all important issues like pushing back foreigners, on Subansiri Dam and land swap deal with Bangladesh, thus bringing its policy of double standards to the fore.
"The people of Assam have realised they have been hoodwinked into believing that the Prime Minister will do something for them, but left them in the lurch. This policy of double standards will go against the BJP in the Assembly polls," the chief minister said.
He said the BJP, knowing it was on a sticky wicket, has entered into an alliance with BPF, tacit understanding with AIUDF and was inching towards political parties like the AGP to cobble up an alliance to defeat the Congress.
The Congress would fight the polls alone and would not enter into pre-poll alliance with any party, he said.
"Congress will get a majority and form the government on its own," Gogoi said.
Asked about his long innings in politics, the senior
Congress leader said "politics has changed over the years. Earlier, there was commitment among people, now it is not there. Even the society has changed. Earlier people used to talk in confidence. Now, nobody talks anything in confidence.
"Dissidence was there earlier also but nobody joined other parties, " he said.
Gogoi started his electoral politics in 1968 by becoming a member of Jorhat Municipal Board in Assam and assumed the Office of Chief Minister in May, 2001 to form the Congress government which is ruling the state for three consecutive terms since then.
Talking about his chance of forming the government again this time, Gogoi said "we have received very good response from people during our campaigning. We are confident of forming the government with absolute majority.
"BJP is saying people want change and they are the change. In Lok Sabha polls, (Narendra) Modi came to Assam and said he was the change and would bring achche din (good days). It has become a big joke. Has the achche din come? Have the people got the basic amenities like houses, drinking water, food, health and clothes?"Gogoi said.
He said Assamese people "took the right decision" after seeing how much Modi has done for the state as they are politically conscious and mature.
"They (BJP) are talking about alternative and change. Do they have the capacity for the same? Except Sarbananda (Sonowal), all leaders are old in state politics. Prafulla Mahanta, Himanta Biswa Sarma -- all have been in politics for a long time.
"BJP's most of the leaders had come from AASU and AGP background. The state BJP is an extended AGP team. They have pasted a new label. It is like old wine in a new bottle. We all know how AGP was in governance. It was the worst. The economy, law and order, job-generation, insurgency and secret killings were at its worst," he added.
When pointed out that polling percentage was huge in Assam and it may be because of anti-incumbency factor, Gogoi said that "in 2011 also, there was huge voting and it was more than that of 2006. We won more seats than 2006.
