Moran (Assam): Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday criticized the opposition BJP as a ‘party that divides the people and centred around only one person’ and made a clarion call to the people the vote for Congress, the oldest party ‘that has been working for development, welfare justice, equality and dignity for all people since country’s freedom struggle.’
Addressing an election rally in Assam for the first time this election for two veteran Congress nominees, Bijoy Krishna Handique (Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency) and Paban Singh Ghatowar (Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency) at Moran in Sivasagar district of eastern Assam, Dr Singh said, “ I have come here with an appeal from Sonia ji and Rahul ji for you to vote for Congress once again for all round and speedy development of the country.”
While focusing on ‘achievement of development and welfare schemes of the UPA government during his speech, the PM dismissed opposition’s charges of corruption against the UPA government and instead blamed the opposition BJP for repeatedly ‘stonewalling’ UPA government’s attempts to enact anti-corruption legislations in the Parliament.
“The BJP brings allegation of corruption against us but it is they (BJP) who have repeatedly failed out attempts to bring about anti-corruption legislations in Parliament. That reflects what the BJP really is,” Dr Singh said adding that the Right to Information Act enacted during the UPA regime has empowered the people to know details about the implementation of government schemes and bringing about transparency in the system.
“The BJP has no philosophy and no principles. It is a party which divides people. How can a party that divides people can take the country forward. In Congress it is a team work and we take people along in serving the country . If you elect Congress again, we will work with renewed vigour to ensure all encompassing and speedier development,” Dr Singh said.
In oblique reference to ‘Modi wave’ Dr Singh said ,” In the BJP only person thinks which is unbecoming of Congress.”
Dr Singh, however, admitted that it had failed in its constant efforts to bring down spiraling prices. “We have ensured that in the last ten years prices of PDS items meant for poor people, have not been raised for once. The Food Security Act will ensure supply of essential items like wheat and rice at the cheapest price to over 80 crore people in the country,” he added
He said by the year 2017, five crore youth would be covered under skill development training schemes in order to woo voters. “Over 14 crore people have been elevated from BPL to APL bracket during the last ten years of UPA regime. Eradication of polio has been a great achievement for the country during the UPA regime while there has been gradual reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality rate in the country.
DR Singh, who has been a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam since 1991, however, did not mention on burning problems of Assam like flood and erosion, illegal migration from Bangladesh etc. though he pointed out that the UPA government had tried its best to tap the immense potential of Assam and other Northeastern states.
