Guwahati, March 15 Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged on Sunday that the Congress, during its previous 15 years of rule in Assam, "pocketed" Rs 150 crore per year from the state's healthcare budget.
The BJP, on the other hand, has transformed the sector within its 10 years of rule in the state, Shah said.
While inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for healthcare projects worth Rs 2,092 crore, he said, "Assam's healthcare was in a state of disarray 10 years ago, as the Congress was only focused on the financial well-being of its leaders' families."
Alleging corruption in the sector during the Congress rule until 2016, the Union minister said, "For 15 years, every year, Rs 150 crore from the state's health budget was siphoned off."
"This money was allegedly used for treating 9 lakh children who were never born, and for the construction of 390 Anganwadi centres that were never built," he said.
After Himanta Biswa Sarma became the CM, he brought the state's medical facilities in line with those of states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, Shah added, emphasizing that the BJP works towards affordable healthcare for all sections of society.
"In 10 years, Assam has become self-reliant in both healthcare and education sectors," he added.
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 "naked" 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 place for 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.
Earlier, 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 centres at Golaghat and Tinsukia, both under the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), which were 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.