Our Correspondent
Diphu, June 6 (EMN): Apurba Kumar Bhatacharjee, General Secretary (GS) of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Monday alleged that the BJP party had started dividing the Karbi people; and it is a government that is looting public money.
Bhattacharjee was campaigning on the final day of the campaign for Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) election, scheduled on June 8, for Congress candidate Ratul Teron from Lumbajong Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituency.
Bhattacherjee said, ‘The BJP is trying to destroy the Karbis, looting public money and using it for election purposes. They (BJP) filled this money in Bolero and took it at night to distribute in villages to win the election’.
He blamed the BJP for playing politics on religious lines to divide tribes and communities.
He went on to add that many BJP national leaders like LK Advani, Amit Shah and others came to campaign during the election promising the people of Karbi Anglong to implement Article 244 (A) of the constitution for an autonomous state for the hill districts.
On April 28, during the prime minister’s visit at Loringthepi in Karbi Anglong, he did not say anything about implementation of Article 244 (A). The government in Dispur is run by ‘Mama’, while in KAAC, it is run by ‘dada’, Bhattacharjee said.
The general secretary also criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his involvement in purchase of PPE kits.
The PPE kits were purchased in the name of the firm owned by CM’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. When the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KAAC Tuliram Ronghang was in Congress, the BJP shouted for conduct of investigation into his alleged corruption, but now in the BJP government, why is an investigation not constituted against Ronghang, he countered.
BJP says that people have received financial support for the Arunodoi scheme, but on the other hand, the price of cooking gas, edible oil have increased considerably. On one hand, the government is giving and on the other hand, it is taking away from people. In Karbi Anglong development is seen only in CEM Tuliram’s house, Bhattacharjee added.
Lumbajong Congress candidate Ratul Teron also said that the people need to end the BJP, which is dividing Karbis.
APHLC, BJP hold rallies
On the final day of campaigning, various political parties and independents took out rallies to show their strength, while some candidates organised meetings to woo voters.
In Diphu, the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) organised a rally from Lorulangso to Manja to show their support for Lumbajong APHLC candidate Rajen Timung.
At Hacha Aklam, the APHLC candidate Rajen Timung said that the protection of rights of tribal people is only in APHLC. I have limited money for election expenses, still then, people came in large numbers to support me as they have understood that only APHLC can protect the indigenous people, he added.
The BJP also organised a bike rally from 5th Kilo, Lumding road to Diphu town, to show their strength and support to party candidate from Lumbajong MAC constituency Johnny Timung.
Timung said, “Winning is 100%. After I win, I will take up the issue of road communication in rural Lumbajong including education, water facility and job opportunities”.
The rally was participated by Education minister Ranuj Pegu and Diphu MLA Bidyasing Engleng.