By Sonit Kumar Goswami and Prashanta Barua.
AITMC Assam Unit Confident of Good Show in 2024
Amid a changing political landscape, the All India Trinamool Congress is gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. With Ripun Bora as president, the party is leaving no stone unturned to ensure better performance in the state and that’s why, the AITMC in rank and file, have been fanning in the nook and corner of the state to get a good grip. Talking to News Mania Assam State president Ripun Bora said they have been trying to deal with all the confronting issues in Assam. Here is an excerpt of the interview by Sonit Kumar Goswami and Prashanta Barua.
Q. Welcome to News Mania Mr Bora. Less than a year remains for the Lok Sabha polls. So, how is your party working in Assam since the entry into the biggest north eastern state is no less challenging?
Ripun Bora: Since inception, the Assam unit of AITC is on ground with full force. The party has been playing the role of active opposition in the State. The Assam unit of AITC is expanding its organization from State level to Gaon panchayat Level in the first phase. In the second phase, it will be expanded to Booth Level, meanwhile out of 35 Districts of Assam we have been able to form a full flagged District Committee, District Trinamool Mahila Congress Committee and District Trinamool Youth Congress Committee in 30 Districts. We have completed Committee’s on various departments at District and State level. Online Membership drives are going on in a massive way. We have also successfully completed State Level Leadership Training Camp and 5 Zonal Training Camp covering 30 Districts. The party unit in Assam has successfully organized a series of agitational programmes on different burning issues pertaining to Assam.
Q. What are the major issues that have been confronting Assam? And what is your take on it?
Ripun Bora: Many issues are affecting the state of Assam. To name a few like price rise, unemployment, flood and erosion, NRC, CAA, pending ST status to 6 ethnic communities of Assam, inter-State border disputes with neighboring states of Assam, no industry etc. are disturbing factors which have destabilized the state from time to time. Holistic approach is required with a time bound programme to address these issues.
Q. What would be your party’s priorities as of now since the party is very new in Assam’s politics?
Ripun Bora: To build up the party across the State and to popularize it in every nook and corner of the State is our topmost priority. Moreover, we are always ready to expose all the anti-people and anti-Assam activities of the BJP Government, false promises of BJP to the people of Assam, deprivation of Assam from its due central share and assistance, step-motherly treatment of Centre to Assam.
Q. What unique policy your party has in hand for the Assamese community?
Ripun Bora: Our slogan in Assam is
“We are for Assam , Assam is ours” To fight for the cause of Assamese people, to protect its culture, History and self respect will be our base policy forever.
Q. We are leaving for you three confronting issues. Please brief your party’s position? (i) Present status on NRC? (ii) BJP led Government unclear deal with Clause VI of the Assam Accord? (iii) Ongoing course of action against child marriage and polygamy?
Ripun Bora: (i) I-card to be issued to all those people whose names appear in the final publication of NRC (3.19 crore). Government must provide appeal facilities to all those people whose names have not appeared in the final list of NRC (19 lakhs).
(ii) BJP Government is in self contradiction. On one hand, they are claiming to implement the Assam Accord in letter and spirit with 25th March 1971 as a cut-off date for detecting and deportation of foreigners. On the other hand, in CAA, BJP Government is committed to give citizenship to those who migrated to Assam from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till 31st Dec 2014. In Clause 6 of Assam Accord, the cut-off year for giving protection to the indigenous Assamese people is 1951.
(iii) We don’t support any discrimination in the name of religion in prohibiting child marriage and polygamy.
Q. Do you have any plans for the 2024 general election in Assam and which party will be your main rival in Assam?
Ripun Bora: Yes we have a plan for the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. We are seriously thinking and preparing for contesting some seats in the 2024 LS election. BJP will be our main rival party.
Q. Will you agree to seat sharing for opposition unity in the 2024 poll as TMC chief Mamata Banerjee expressed her interest for support to Congress on condition?
Ripun Bora: It will depend on the modalities of seat sharing and opposition unity at National level to oust BJP.
Q. How do you evaluate the BJP led Assam Government?
Ripun Bora: The BJP led Government in Assam has totally failed in all fronts. I will give 0 out of 10 to Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma led the BJP Government of Assam. It pushed the State to a serious economic crisis by putting the State in an unprecedented debt burden of Rs.1.42 lakh crores. As of now the average debt burden to each person of Assam including a newborn baby is Rs.37,000/- which is a very alarming economic condition. The Government has not taken any fruitful steps for creation of employment opportunities to 35 lakhs of unemployed youths except filling up a few thousand vacant posts in some Government departments. The BJP led Government in Assam failed to protect the social fabric, age old social harmony and integration among different caste, creeds and communities of Assam.
News Mania Desk
