The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Assam): During a spirited roadshow in Jorhat, Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra committed to raising the daily wages of tea garden workers, should the opposition alliance win the impending Lok Sabha elections. She emphasized this pledge as a key element of the Congress party’s manifesto, reflecting her visit to the tea gardens prior to the last assembly elections where she initially made this promise.
Vadra accused the BJP of planning to amend the Indian Constitution, warning that such changes could endanger the rights and well-being of ordinary citizens. She argued that the current government’s policies have not benefitted the tea workers, who continue to earn about Rs 250 a day.
Supporting Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress candidate for Jorhat, Vadra criticized the BJP’s campaign rhetoric and lauded Gogoi for consistently addressing issues affecting the people. She attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for neglecting pressing issues like unemployment and inflation, which she claims are at critical levels, and challenged the electorate to vote beyond communal and caste lines.
The roadshow marked the beginning of a busy campaign day for Vadra, who arrived in Jorhat early in the morning and immediately proceeded to Titabor, part of the Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency. Accompanied by state and national Congress figures, she engaged with local residents, highlighting the unique cultural and historical significance of the Northeast, which she claims has been undermined by the BJP’s policies.
Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Jorhat is part of a larger strategy to bolster the Congress presence in the Northeast, with further plans to campaign in Tripura. Her commitments in Assam included addressing issues of inflation and unemployment, advocating for Congress’s “five justice guarantees” which aim to alleviate public hardship and bolster the country’s future. The voting in Jorhat is scheduled for the first phase on April 19, setting the stage for a direct contest between Gogoi and the incumbent BJP MP, Topon Kumar Gogoi.