Assam civil society group urges voters to ponder before casting ballots

Guwahati: In a plea to the electorate of Upper Assam ahead of the inaugural phase of Lok Sabha polls, the Assam Nagarik Samaj (ANS), a civil society organization, implored citizens to contemplate their choices diligently.

"We should note two things--What has the BJP done in the country in the last ten years? What were their promises and what did they do?" the group said in a statement.

Highlighting a litany of unfulfilled pledges, the statement scrutinized the BJP's track record, underscoring the chasm between assurances and actions.

"They said they would employ 20 million people every year, reduce petrol price to Rs 50, control the price hike, bring back black money from abroad and distribute it to the people, double farmers' incomes… But, what did they do in reality? Nothing," said the group.

The discourse delved into the alleged favoritism towards corporate giants, accusing the government of exacerbating economic inequalities. "The existing government jobs have been halved, and public sector institutions handed over to Adani and Ambani, snatching away the bread from our children."

Addressing the plight of farmers, the statement condemned the contentious agricultural laws and the subsequent farmer protests, characterizing them as emblematic of governmental indifference. "They dug roads and buried nails on roads and did not allow farmers to enter Delhi," it added.

The narrative extended to matters of social justice and women's safety, citing instances of alleged governmental apathy and inaction. "Modi remained silent… Numerous women were gang-raped… And what about ridding the country of corruption? Less said is better."

The ANS commended Gaurav Gogoi for his courageous stance in parliament, delineating the purported misdeeds of the ruling party. It also endorsed opposition candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi for spearheading the anti-CAA movement, urging voters to rally behind candidates deemed staunch advocates for the people's interests.

Furthermore, the statement elucidated a brewing crisis in Upper Assam, accusing BJP ministers and MLAs of acquiring tea plantations and potentially jeopardizing the livelihoods of tea workers. "Not to mention the increase in plantation wages, some tea plantation workers have not received their salaries for several months," it said

The Assam Nagarik Samaj cautioned against the repercussions of unchecked electoral decisions, admonishing voters to consider the ramifications for their communities and futures.

The statement was issued by Ajit Kr Bhuyan, Paresh Malakar and Shantanu Borthakur on behalf of the ANS.