BJP, RSS want to control everyone's views: Rahul

Goalpara

"BJP and RSS are following the agenda of creating divide and hatred, as can be seen from the recent developments in JNU, by imposing their views forcibly on people," Gandhi said at a party meeting here in Assam's Sonitpur district.

He alleged, "BJP and RSS have no respect for the diversity of the nation's culture and sentiments of the people. They just want that everybody follow their views.

"They find terrorism everywhere, even in universities and brand anybody who do not agree with their views as terrorists."

BJP has over the years followed the policy of "creating a divide between Hindus and Muslims, branding the latter as terrorists. They followed the same policy in Assam by creating divide among the Bodos and adivasis during the 2014 attack on the latter", he alleged.

"Congress is just not like that. We have respect for all culture and believe in harmony, brotherhood, unity and amity among all sections of people," Gandhi said.

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making false promises to people.

"Modiji had promised that Rs 15 lakh will be deposited in every new bank account under the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana. Has anybody got any amount in their accounts? All his promises are a laughing matter," Gandhi said.

BJP will suffer a defeat in the upcoming Assam Assembly polls the same way it was trounced in Bihar, he said.

"Congress under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has done a commendable job for the last 15 years and the results (of that) will show in the forthcoming polls," he added.

He also expressed satisfaction with Congress' preparation for the elections following the adoption of the Micro Booth Management scheme by the party at the grass-root level.

Addressing a Congress Mahila Jana Jagaran meeting at Bihpuria in Lakhimpur district, Gandhi said, "People of Assam should expose that the suit-boot wale (BJP) are giving benefits to only a few selected for business in Delhi causing losses to the state."

"Before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi had come to Assam and promised to give jobs to each youth in the state and deposit Rs 15 lakh in each bank account. Is there anyone here who got a government job and the Rs 15 lakh as promised by him? Wherever Modi goes, he makes many promises but fails to deliver on them," he said.

"Wherever BJP goes before the polls, they start unrests and violence between the two religions as progress is not their aim but power is...They only cause losses," he alleged.

Before the Bihar assembly polls, Modi gave speeches there and tried to "instigate" unrest but Congress, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad united to "spread the messages of brotherhood", he claimed.

The previous UPA government had awarded special category status to Assam and sent thousands of crores of rupees for its development. The first thing Modi did after becoming Prime Minister was he canceled the special status, he said.

Gandhi attacked the Modi government over inflation, saying the price of dal (pulses) today has risen to Rs 200.

"You will never see Modi's picture with the poor and farmers in tattered clothes but only selfies with Obama.

Farmers are dying in Punjab and Maharashtra but the government is not doing anything," he alleged.

Gandhi said Modi talks of 'Make in India' but Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi talks of 'Make in Assam' to help the poor, small businesses, women, workers and the deprived.

Gandhi said, "Gogoi is helping all - women, old, poor, farmers, youth for Assam's progress. Congress wants peace, love, brotherhood and development in Assam but BJP wants to spoil it."

Claiming that the Gogoi government had restored peace in Assam, he said, "Do you remember how much violence was there in Assam and you could not go out of your house. That was changed by Tarun Gogoi."

Evoking the names of women freedom fighters Kanak Lata Barua and Bhogeswari Phukanani from the state, Gandhi said they fought for peace, brotherhood and contributed to Assam's development.

Congress, he said, has always been aspiring to give space and power to women.

"Gogoi has done that here. He told me that money is given to women when they marry, don't marry, become widows, or give birth to children and class nine school girls are given cycles," he said.

Women have been helped to form self-help groups in the state and bank loans had been arranged for them, which changed their life. Besides, Gogoi government has provided for 30 per cent reservation for women in govenment jobs and wants to raise it to 50 per cent, the Congress vice-president added.