Smriti Irani slams Congress for alliance with 'forces that have sworn to destroy Assam'

SIVASAGAR: Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani today launched a blistering on the Congress ahead of the elections in Assam which will be held in three phases from March 27-June 6.

 

Addressing party supporters at a meet here, Irani slammed the Congress for joining forces with anti-Assam forces (in an oblique reference to the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF) while also taking digs at the party for alleged acts of 'corruption.'

 

"They make a drama of a grand alliance, while at the same time, aligning with forces that have sworn to destroy Assam. The Congress is in such a state that it plucks tea leaves from Assam gardens to read their future," Irani said.

 

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Irani, one of the 'star campaigners' chosen to blow the party's bugle ahead of the elections, exhorted the people of the state to vote for the saffron party.

 

"This time, you simply have to press the lotus button," Irani said, adding that the Congress misled the people throughout the years.

 

Taking digs at former prime minister Manmohan Singh "who was elected to power by the people of Assam," Irani said, "During the Congress rule, look what you got during the 13th Finance Commission, not even Rs. 60,000 crore was earmarked for developmental activities in Assam."

 

"In 2019, you chose Narendra Modi and in the 15th Finance Commission, in contrast, one lakh seventy thousand crores has been earmarked for the state," Irani added.

 

However, the Minister said, the public will only receive the benefits of this grant "if they press the lotus button on May 27.

 

Lauding the prime minister for his role in the fight against the COVID-19, Irani added that the Central government schemes enabled 80 crore poor people to receive free ration.

 

"Had the Congress been in power, it would have looted from the poor instead of giving free ration," Irani added.

 

The 2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election is the 15th quinquennial legislative assembly election scheduled to be held in Assam from March 27 to April 6 in three phases, to elect 126 MLAs to the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly.