BJP mum over China's dam on Brahmaputra: Priyanka Gandhi

Guwahati: Addressing an election rally in eastern Assam, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi alleged that China is constructing a dam on the river Brahmaputra, which will inflict much damage on the river, and the ruling BJP government is doing nothing to protect the river, which plays a huge role in the lives of the people and the economy of Assam.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Assam for poll campaign several times, but he did not utter a single word on the vital issue, nor did he prevent China from constructing the mega-dam," she noted. The river, called Yarlung Tsangpo in China, flows from Tibet to Arunachal, through Assam to Bangladesh.

She further alleged the BJP-led government of an ordinance allowing industrialists to purchase land in the state without permission and of selling out significant assets, creating a loss to the Indian economy. "A syndicate raj is prevailing in Assam," she said.

The leader further alleged that BJP is cheating women and youth in the state as atrocities against women are maximum in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. Taking a dig at the BJP's "double engine governance" in the state, she said that the state has two CMs, both of whom are controlled from Delhi. She also reiterated the Congress's manifesto guarantee that the CAA would be repealed if Congress comes to power.

Stressing on the need for the people of Assam to decide for themselves and not rely on those at the Centre, she said, "The BJP leaders are so ignorant about Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva that they are saying that he (Sankardeva) was fighting against the infiltrations and dealing with other issues. When these people do not know about the iconic figure of Assam, how can they do good to the state." Srimanta Sankardeva was a 15th-16th century Assamese saint, scholar, poet, playwright, social-religious reformer and a figure of importance in Assam's cultural and religious history.

Priyanka is in Assam on a two-day stay starting from Sunday and is scheduled to address six election rallies in eastern and central Assam and visit the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva at Bordowa Satra.