Karimganj (Assam) [India], July 9 (ANI): Reacting to Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi’s Assam visit, Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles on Tuesday requested the Congress to not spread “venom of politics” in Assam and North East as the state is in “peace”.
“We welcome him, but we have a request, Assam and North East is in peace, please don’t spread your venom of Congress’ politics here… He could have come to the flood relief area to stand with the people of Assam, but he came, tweeted and went… Under the guidance, support and assistance of PM Modi and the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, we, the people in general working very hard for flood relief,” Pabitra Margherita told ANI.
Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi visited Assam and hit out at the Assam government over the grim flood situation in Assam and said that the situation of the state reflects the “gross and grave mismanagement” by BJP’s double-engine government which came to power with the promise of a “flood-free Assam”.
“The extreme devastation caused by flooding in Assam is heartbreaking – with innocent children like 8-year-old Avinash being taken away from us. My heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families across the State. Assam Congress leaders apprised me of the situation on the ground: 60+ deaths, 53,000+ displaced, 24,00,000 affected. These numbers reflect the gross and grave mismanagement by BJP’s double-engine government which came to power with the promise of a flood-free Assam,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X.
He further said that Assam needs a comprehensive and compassionate vision.
“Assam needs a comprehensive and compassionate vision – proper relief, rehabilitation, and compensation in the short term, and a pan-Northeast water management authority to do everything necessary to control floods in the long term,” he added.
The Congress leader said that he stands with the people of Assam and urged the central government to extend all possible help and support to the State expeditiously.
“I stand with the people of Assam, I am their soldier in Parliament, and I urge the Central govt to extend all possible help and support to the State expeditiously,” he added.
Meanwhile, a team of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), led by President Bhupen Borah submitted a memorandum to LoP Rahul Gandhi urging him to take up the issue of the perennial flood of Assam in Parliament.
As per the official APCC letter, “The key to Assam’s flood problems lay in the hills. Due to large-scale deforestation in the hills, there is immense siltation in Assam’s rivers. The resultant rising of the riverbed has progressively reduced the carrying capacity of Assam’s rivers.”
“Therefore, in the monsoon season and with climate change, we are seeing extreme rainfalls–the water discharge is beyond the carrying capacity of rivers. The long-term solution therefore is a pan-Northeast water management authority, suitably empowered by Parliament to do everything necessary to control floods,” it said.
“The short-term solution is strengthening the current flood management infrastructure like embankments, and providing immediate relief and rehabilitation to those affected,” stated the letter.
The severe flood situation in Assam over the past month has resulted in the loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure, road closures, crop destruction, and livestock loss. The deluge has also left hundreds of people homeless and unsettled. (ANI)
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