Congress committed to 'Make in Assam': Rahul Gandhi

Goalpara (Assam): Campaigning for the second and last phase of elections, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said his party is committed to 'Make in Assam' initiative to provide employment to more than 10 lakh youths.

"Our party is committed to the welfare and development of the poor and the Congress government led by Tarun Gogoi was committed to 'Make in Assam' to provide employment to the youth of the state," Gandhi said at an election rally here.

The first phase of polling was held today in the state. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of 'Make in India' but for us the development of Assam and its youth are priority and we have been doing it for the last 15 years.

"If you recall the situation in 2001 before the Congress came to power, there was violence and killings all over the state. The Congress with its policy of love and compassion brought about a change to ensure development of the local people," he added.

It was the Congress that brought peace and started the development process in the state leading to a rise in the per capita income, constructing more than 24,000 kms of roads, setting up three new medical colleges and providing scholarships to more than seven lakh students in the state, he said.

"We don't make false promises like Modi did before the last Lok Sabha elections but we toil hard by giving our blood and sweat to improve the condition of the poor in the country," Gandhi said.

Gandhi said that if the Congress returns to power, it will continue with this development process and ensure more jobs to the youth of Assam, employment to two lakh teachers, scholarships to children of poor families for preparing for civil services, and address the problems faced by farmers by ensuring that they get proper price and market for their products.

"I have also asked Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to provide free medical help in state-of-the-art government hospitals to those having annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh," he said.

He said the Congress cares for the security of the poor and is "not like BJP which is only interested in creating division in the society, guided as they are by RSS ideology from Nagpur".

The Congress cares for farmers, labourers, youths, women and weaker sections and is committed to their security and development.

He also alleged that the BJP government at the Centre was serving the rich and was only committed to further the interests of a few industrialists.

"Vijay Mallya looted thousands of crores and the BJP government allowed him to leave the country. The Prime Minister says something and does something else," he said Modi had promised before the Lok Sabha polls that he would "ensure return of black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of all citizens but now he is trying to turn black money into white by his 'Fair and Lovely' scheme",

Gandhi said, referring to an amnesty scheme announced in this year's Union Budget.