Guwahati, March 15 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that the Congress, during its previous 15 years of rule in Assam, "siphoned off" Rs 150 crore per year from the state's healthcare budget.
While inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for healthcare projects worth Rs 2,092 crore in Assam, Shah said the BJP works for affordable healthcare for all sections of society and lauded Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for bringing the state's medical facilities in line with those of states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
"Assam's healthcare was in a state of disarray 10 years ago, as the Congress was only concerned with the financial well-being of its leaders' families," he said.
Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said that no Indian supports his actions of "defaming" the country in his attempt to oppose the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He criticized the Congress for its "unorganized" protest at the recent AI summit in New Delhi and Gandhi for having "chai-pakora" on the steps of the Parliament House.
"We were also in the opposition and staged protests against the government, but there is a proper platform for it," he said.
"Parliament is a sacred institution of democracy. Its steps should not be used for even protests. And Rahul Gandhi was having 'chai-pakora' there. Doesn't he know where to have his breakfast?" asked the Union minister.
Shah inaugurated the Rs 675-crore Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital in Guwahati, at a program held on its premises.
He also virtually inaugurated two cancer centers at Golaghat and Tinsukia, both under the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), constructed at a cost of Rs 135 crore each.
Shah virtually laid the foundation stone for super-specialty hospitals at Diphu Medical College and Hospital (Rs 220 crore), Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (Rs 310 crore), and Barpeta Medical College and Hospital (Rs 284 crore).
The foundation stone for a Rs 218-crore Swasthya Bhawan in Guwahati, and the Abhayapuri District Hospital (Rs 115 crore) were also laid by the Union home minister.
Shah arrived here on Saturday evening on a two-day visit to Assam, his fourth visit to the northeastern state in four months.