Nazira/Tingkhong/Khowang, April 1 Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of "plundering" everything in the resource-rich state, while the people "have nothing."
In back-to-back election rallies, Vadra alleged that the BJP-led NDA government is functioning through intimidation.
"A single family is looting everything in Assam. And when they are not looting, mines, land, and other assets are being handed over to large industrialists," Vadra claimed.
Alleging widespread corruption under the BJP-led government in Assam, she highlighted old scams such as Saradha, Smart City, and NC Hills.
"The BJP said they have provided a 'double-engine' government. In reality, it is a 'double-slavery' government. Prime Minister Modi is engaged in slavery of America's (Donald) Trump and Israel's (Benjamin) Netanyahu, and Himanta Biswa Sarma is engaged in slavery of Modi," she said, addressing an election rally in Nazira in support of Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia.
She also criticized the state government for failing to fulfill its promise of increasing daily wages for tea garden workers and providing basic amenities.
"Various tribal communities have been demanding ST status for years. The BJP had promised to grant them ST status, but they failed to do so," the MP said.
The Congress leader also alleged that women in the state were being pressured to attend rallies of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, with threats that their names would be removed from various government schemes, especially 'Orunodoi'.
"The money allocated under these schemes is not Himanta Biswa Sarma's money. It is public money, and the money of every citizen. Government schemes do not operate this way."
"PM Modi and CM Himanta are ruling the country and the state through fear and intimidation. Our fight is against that fear, and for protecting Assam's culture, civilization, and freedom of expression," she asserted.
Addressing her second election rally in Tingkhong in support of party candidate Bipul Gogoi, Vadra said that Assam possesses land, mines, history, nature, forests, and all other resources.
"This land has given you everything. But still, the people don't have anything. Only one family is prospering in Assam. Everything is being plundered in front of your eyes. The BJP government has betrayed the people," she told the audience.
The Congress leader alleged that the state is being run by "mafias and syndicates."
Vadra also stated that musician Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore in September last year, was the voice of Assam, and he sang about brotherhood, unity, and love.
"But the Assam government has not provided justice to his family. We want to establish a government that will provide justice to Zubeen Garg within 100 days," she asserted.
In her third rally at Khowang for Assam Jatiya Parishad's candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi, Vadra accused the governments in Assam and the Centre of being run by "cowards."
"Modi and Himanta are cowards. They are ruling through intimidation," she alleged.
The Congress leader asserted that there has been no improvement in people's lives during the last five years of the BJP-led government in the state.
"People's problems and dangers have increased in the last five years in Assam. Inflation has reached its peak, and essential items are unaffordable. There is no employment for young people who are seeking jobs outside the state," she claimed.
She also stated that petrol and diesel prices will increase after the elections due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
She said this assembly election is like the freedom struggle to protect the rights of the Assamese people.
Speaking to reporters later on Garg's death, Vadra said, "I honestly believe that such things should not be politicized. But when there is a demand among the public that somebody whom they revered and respected is not getting justice, then also, as politicians, isn't it our duty to say that we are going to make every effort to give justice?
"How is that politicization? It is our duty. We cannot ignore the voice of millions and millions of Assamese people."
She was reacting to the BJP's allegation that Congress has politicized Garg's death by including the issue in the election manifesto.
"We have all seen at the time of Garg's death what he meant to the people of Assam. How can we ignore it? At least it is our job to say that we are going to try to make every effort to give justice to his family.
"After all, when you lose a person, what is it that you want? Thousands of Assamese people believed that he was part of their families. What do they expect? They just expect justice," Vadra said.