Cong govt at Centre was being run from Italy: Shah

Ratabari/Hailakandi (Assam), Mar 31: Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that if BJP wins in Assam, the state government will be run by RSS from Nagpur, party chief Amit Shah today said the previous UPA government at the Centre was being run from Italy.

"Gandhi says if BJP forms government in Assam, it will be run by RSS from Nagpur...What about 10 years of the UPA government which was being run from Italy," Shah said during his two election rallies in the Barak Valley. Attacking Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Shah said her speech while canvassing for the Assam assembnly polls that her party would ensure the state's development amused him.

"What were they (Congress) doing for the last 15 years when her party was in power in the state and at the Centre for 10 years," he asked. He accused Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of failing to stop infiltration from Bangladesh and Assam from "emerging as the number one state in corruption.

Tea, oil and mineral-rich Assam saw no development as Gogoi "keept the doors of the border open for infiltrators", he said. BJP, Shah said, is committed to resolve the problem of infiltration and will also give protection to refugees who have left their homes in Bangladesh following religious persecution.

"The BJP government (at the Centre) has already passed an ordinance in this regard but I want to make it clear that it will not be Assam's responsibility alone to take in the refugees. The entire country will share the burden."

Criticising the Chief Minister, he said, "Has Gogoi babu ensured development of roads, education, health, women's security? He did nothing for the last 15 years but only indulged in corruption. "Where has the large amount of fund sent by the Centre to the state gone? Gogoi babu is the kingpin of corruption."

Shah assured concrete steps will be taken to resolve problems of tea garden labourers in the Barak Valley, to revive and modernise Cachar Paper Mills at Panchgramset and a cultural centre in Swami Vivekananda's name in the Valley. He appealed to voters to vote for BJP on April 4 and take the pledge of "Pehle matdan, phir jalpan" (first vote and then have food).

PTI