Assam Pradesh Congress launches “Mati Bachao, Jati Bachao” and “Samay Paribartanor” Yatra

By Dalim Phukan

After offering prayers at Maa Kamakhya, the Pradesh Congress launches the yatra titled “Mati Bachao, Jati Bachao” and “Samay Paribartanor”

On the first day, the Congress exposed before the people several land and property holdings allegedly acquired by the Chief Minister’s family, including Bandya International School at Amingaon

▪️ Ten special LED vehicles flagged off from Rajiv Bhawan for the new Sankalp Yatra; Congress’s special yatra to cover districts across the state

▪️ Paying tribute at Zubeen Khetra in Sonapur, APCC President Gaurav Gogoi raises demand for early justice for Zubeen Garg

▪️ Congress protests in front of News Live owned by the Chief Minister’s wife, a McDonald’s outlet, and Minister Ashok Singhal’s Protech Park

▪️ Jalukbari, the Chief Minister’s home constituency, reverberates with slogans like “Dexotkoi Mami Dangor Nohoy” and “Land Predator, Beware”

Guwahati.Feb. 6:  The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has turned more aggressive against the alleged corruption and irregularities of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In line with this, the APCC on Thursday launched a special yatra titled “Mati Bachao, Jati Bachao” and “Samay Paribartanor”.

The yatra was inaugurated from the Manavendra Sharma Complex at Dispur Last Gate using a specially designed vehicle. The vehicle has a capacity of seating around 12 people, with a front platform that allows leaders to stand and address the public. The vehicle is also equipped with microphones and lighting arrangements to ensure that the programme can continue even during night hours.

The vehicle was flagged off at around 9 am in the presence of APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, AICC General Secretary in charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, co-in-charge Prithviraj Sathe, Manoj Chauhan, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, MPs Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain, former APCC Presidents Bhupen Bora and Ripun Bora, MLA Shivamani Bora, APCC Mahila Congress President Meera Borthakur, along with several other state leaders.

As the vehicle moved forward, crowds gathered on both sides of the road. Congress workers accompanying the special vehicle displayed banners and festoons highlighting various corruption allegations against the BJP government and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In particular, festoons bearing slogans such as “Land Predator” and “Dexotkoi Mami Dangor Nohoy” (Family Is Not Bigger Than the Nation) were displayed, referring to land allegedly purchased by the Chief Minister’s wife across different parts of the state.

The vehicle passed through Ganeshguri and GS Road and reached Maa Kamakhya Dham, where all leaders, under the leadership of Gaurav Gogoi, sought the blessings of Maa Kamakhya. From Kamakhya, the Congress convoy crossed the Saraighat Bridge and proceeded towards Amingaon.

At Amingaon, the yatra reached the premises of the luxury Bandya International School, registered in the name of the Chief Minister’s family. Under the leadership of APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress party staged a protest in front of the school, alleging that the institution had been established by encroaching upon government reserve land after looting public money. Congress leaders and workers assembled in front of the school holding placards reading “Family Is Not Bigger Than the Nation.”

Addressing the gathering, Gaurav Gogoi accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of running an autocratic and anti-people administration and of strategically taking control of indigenous land rights. He alleged that without any concern for government laws, the Chief Minister had transferred government land into his own name and had encroached upon land across Assam.

Gogoi claimed that according to information available with the Congress, the Chief Minister’s family owns nearly 12,000 bighas of land, and that today the Chief Minister’s wife is the owner of properties spread across this vast area. He said the Congress had come to stand before this school to expose the truth, adding that poor children cannot study in this institution due to extremely high fees, making it accessible only to the wealthy. He termed this situation shameful.

He further stated that the person who once held responsibility for the education department for a long period had overseen the closure of nearly 8,000 government schools, while his wife had opened a luxurious private school spread across 60 bighas of land, resembling a five-star hotel. Gogoi said the Congress would take these facts to the people of Assam.

As the vehicle moved closer to the school gate, Gogoi said that the Congress wanted to show their in-charge leaders the Chief Minister’s school, accusing Himanta Biswa Sarma of closing schools and opening liquor shops, changing land laws, encroaching upon land and establishing such institutions.

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said that on the very day the school was inaugurated, the Chairman had publicly stated that the founder was Himanta Biswa Sarma. He alleged that while the Chief Minister once claimed he would give all his property to the people, he had instead accumulated vast assets. Saikia questioned the justification of opening a luxury private school while thousands of government schools were being shut down in Assam.

Thereafter, the special vehicle led by Gaurav Gogoi re-entered Guwahati and halted in front of other properties belonging to the Chief Minister’s family, including a news channel, newspaper office, and McDonald’s outlet on GS Road. Standing on the vehicle, APCC Mahila Congress President Meera Borthakur pointed towards the properties and alleged that they were worth hundreds of crores of rupees and had been built using public money, demanding accountability from the Chief Minister.

Addressing the gathering from the vehicle, Gaurav Gogoi alleged that whenever journalists question the Chief Minister, he intimidates them by threatening to call their owners. He said many journalists have been forced to quit journalism due to fear. Referring to the news channel outside which the protest was being held, Gogoi alleged that the channel receives only government funds, which are actually public money. He demanded disclosure of how much money had been transferred to institutions owned by the Chief Minister’s wife over the past ten years and said the Congress would expose how much land had been encroached upon by the Chief Minister and his family.

The vehicle then reached Ganeshguri, where Congress leaders protested in front of Minister Ashok Singhal’s commercial complex ‘Protech Park’, alleging large-scale land encroachment across the state through the Protech company.

Later, the yatra arrived at the APCC headquarters Rajiv Bhawan, where ten LED-equipped vehicles were flagged off as part of the “Mati Bachao, Jati Bachao” and “Samay Paribartanor” Sankalp Yatra, which will travel across constituencies and districts of Assam. Gaurav Gogoi stated that these vehicles would expose the BJP government’s anti-people policies and deception before the masses.

In the afternoon, the campaign vehicle proceeded to Zubeen Khetra at Sonapur, where Gaurav Gogoi and other leaders paid floral tributes to Zubeen Garg. Holding placards reading “Deliver Justice to Zubeen Garg”, hundreds of Congress workers demanded early justice for the singer.

Earlier in the morning, after seeking blessings at Maa Kamakhya, Gaurav Gogoi said that the APCC had begun its election campaign with prayers for peace, harmony, progress and unity in Assam. He said the Congress aspires to build a new and greater Assam marked by peace, progressive values and social harmony.

AICC General Secretary Jitendra Singh said the yatra began with prayers at Maa Kamakhya for the well-being and peace of the people of Assam and with a resolve to take the state forward on the path of development. Former APCC President Bhupen Bora said the campaign aimed to put an end to misrule and begin an era of good governance, calling it a people’s movement of Assam.

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said that along with Maa Kamakhya, the people of Assam would bless the movement, while MP Pradyut Bordoloi prayed for the welfare of all communities and linguistic groups of the state.

On the otherhand, BJP Assam state unit said that Congress’s “Journey of Change” is in reality a journey towards the repetition of the dark days.

The State BJP described the Congress’s so-called “journey of change,” under the leadership of Pakistani agent Gaurav Gogoi, as in fact a journey towards the repetition of the dark days of the previous Congress regime. This was stated by State BJP spokesperson Jayanta Kumar Goswami while addressing a press conference held today at the State BJP headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan.

The spokesperson said that the Congress’s journey reminds the people of Assam of the days of Congress rule marked by rampant killings of Rhino, corruption, nepotism, and  malpractices. As a result, the journey has failed to receive support in areas inhabited by indigenous Assamese Hindus and Muslims as well as people of Indian origin, and therefore the Congress’s march has faced strong public resistance in regions such as Bordowa and other areas. However, he stated that the journey has received widespread support in Miya-dominated areas.

He further stated that the Congress’s concept of “New Bor Asom” actually signifies an Assam dominated by Miyas, and that in the coming days Gaurav Gogoi has resolved to settle Miyas across all areas of Assam. However, he asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will never allow Congress to succeed in this objective and will always safeguard the interests of indigenous Assamese Hindus and Muslims as well as people of Indian origin.

The spokesperson described the Chief Minister of Assam as a visionary committed to securing the future of the Assamese people, and said that the conspiracies hatched by Congress against him will never be allowed to succeed by the people of Assam. He added that the Chief Minister has been working relentlessly to protect Assamese interests against Miyas, and that the people of Assam stand firmly with him.

On the other hand, he mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, has made tireless efforts for the development of Assam, as a result of which the state has been moving steadily towards progress over the past ten years.