‘Grand Alliance set to accomplish mission 101’
HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 4: With just two days left for the third phase of assembly polls, former Union minister and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been working as karyakarta (office bearers) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“The manner and style of functioning of a constitutional body like ECI forced us to think of its autonomy,” Singh who is also the in-charge of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said addressing a press conference at a city hotel here.
Singh said that no one has faith in the EVM polls and the Congress party has been continuously speaking about it and filed a petition before the Supreme Court.
“The people of the country have no faith in EVM. While big countries like the US, England, Germany, Italy have totally closed down the EVM system and taken up the ballot paper system, why is our ECI conducting polls with the EVM,” Singh asked.
“We have been demanding that while the faith of the people on EVM has gone, why are we not taking ballot papers. What is the problem of the government with this?” Singh also said.
“EVMs were found in a vehicle of a BJP candidate. Not in just one place, such cases have occurred in many places. In Assam, a senior minister who thinks that he will become the chief minister, had said that he would arrest someone by using the NIA. What has the Election Commission done about this? The Election Commission is silently working for them,” Singh said.
Claiming that the Congress-led 10 party Grand Alliance will win 101 seats in the state elections, AICC national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, “Even as the BJP has been on its set framework during the campaign- polarising votes, threatening and blackmailing opponents, tampering EVMs, not mentioning their accomplishments, not showing report cards of their performance or unfulfilled promises, the Grand Alliance is sweeping the elections and is on its way to accomplish Mission 101.”
“We stand together on this podium, united. United against the mis-governance, damage to cultural identity, harmony, communal divide and economic downfall of Assam in the last five years,” Vallabh said.
“The glory of Assam has taken a beating in the last five years- communal violence, division of society, economic mismanagement, infighting in the government, law and order in shambles, women safety and integrity taking a hit and unemployment is at its peak,” Vallabh said.
“We are all together because we have a common objective- building a strong, prosperous and peaceful Assam. An Assam being run by the “people of Assam” and accomplishments that are directed “for the betterment of the Assamese people”. We are the daughters and sons of the soil of Assam and are committed to take Assam on the path of growth,” also said.
“Negative politics by the BJP hasn’t deterred us from going to the people with a vision for Assam, creating a roadmap and being proactive about the solutions. We received more than 1 lakh 78 thousand registrations on our job portal and we interacted with more than 1 lakh 25 thousand unemployed youth across almost all constituencies in Assam to understand their aspirations, skill gap and communicate our roadmap to create jobs. The people of Assam in return have bestowed their blessings and support all across the state,” he said.
“Along with our vision on other fronts, the Congress Grand Alliance will work to fulfil the 5 Guarantees- no CAA, 5 lakh government jobs and creation of 25 lakh private jobs, daily wages of Rs 365 for tea workers, 200 units of free electricity for every household- which will save about Rs 1400 every month and most importantly, Rs 2000 to every housewife in the state every month, he said.
“Neither do we believe in divide and rule nor do we practice favouritism in development, like the current BJP government. Our Guarantees will be meant for everyone equally irrespective of region, religion, caste or any other parameter that is meant to divide Assam. Policies will be made in Assam, executed in Assam and will benefit the people of Assam. We urge the people to continue showering their blessings and support to the Congress Grand Alliance. Let us take Assam forward, together,” he added.
APCC president Ripun Bora, Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) president and Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, CPI leader Munin Mahanta, CPI(M) leader Devendra Bhattacharyya, AIUDF general secretary Abdul Kader and leaders of other alliance partners who were also present in the press conference, thanked the people for coming out braving all situation and circumstances to vote for the Grand alliance in the elections.