Assam: Pijush Hazarika Lashes Out at APCC President Ripun Bora for Engaging in Politics at Corona Time

Guwahati, April 12, 2020:

Assam Minister of State Health & Family Welfare Pijush Hazarika on Sunday lashed out at Congress leader Ripun Bora for engaging in politics at a time when it should be about helping each other.

While addressing a press conference, Hazarika took up the matter that the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora had raised on Thursday. Bora had sent a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Morigaon district stating, "Information has been received that more than 1200 are under stress and hunger due to non-availability of food items at Jagiroad, Indira Nagar, GP- Dowsal. Contact Person - Nekib Dudul."

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/588878685305225/

"Nekib Dudul gave a list of 306 people (representing their families) to the Dowsal Panchayat citing that they had nothing to eat. However, since this is my constituency, I know what is going on here. I have been taking stock of Jagiroad and there is no hunger or stress like Ripun Bora has mentioned," claimed Pijush Hazarika.

ALSO READ: Meghalaya Prays: Renowned Personalities Appeal to Join Easter Sunday Prayer at 6 PM

The Assam Minister of Health & Family Welfare announced a few names and said, "90 percent of these names belong to a certain religious community. Congress is doing politics again by flattering these people. Out of the 306, 235 have NFSA (National Food Security Act)cards, under which they are getting 5 kg rice. This time they have received the ration twice. Rice has also been made available for free. I am challenging Ripun Bora here. I am confident that these people have already received the rice. Out of the 71 familes left, 25 have been provided with Rs. 1,000. The rest of the families reside in rented houses."

Hazarika went on to say that Congress can only think of Rahim and not Ram. "Whereas the BJP Govt does not only work for Ram but also Rahim. Our motto is Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas," he said.

The Jagiroad leader revealed that some names that were included in the list provided by one Nekib Dudul, were not distressed. "He mentioned Khalid Rahman and Jahanara Begum, whose brother is a teacher at Shahid Lakhi Deka School. Ripun Bora's point of contact also gave a TET teacher's name, Sultana Hussain. Mir Hussain the Manager at a Gas Agency here. So, is he distressed? Is he in hunger?" he said.

ALSO READ: COVID-19: India Cases Cross 8000-Mark, 909 New Cases and 34 Deaths Reported in 24 Hours

The Assam Minister further revealed names of well-to-do businessmen of Jagiroad whose names were included in the distressed persons' list. "Dilip Deb is an established businessman. Rajib Ali is also a businessman. I request Bora to refrain from painting a bad impression of the Assamese. They are clearly doing politics. This time should be just to help people," he added.

Amid the lockdown and coronavirus terror, Pijush Hazarika informed that his party workers had been supplying at least 25,000 litres of water to the areas where there is water crisis. "In the past 10 days, I have spent 7000 rupees daily to supply 25,000 litres of water to the people of Jagiroad. I didn’t want publicity and that’s why quietly kept working. We've been working for Jagiroad people selflessly and suddenly this Nekib Dudul gives a list of 306 people of just one community. This is unacceptable. Ripun Bora has to provide an answer to this," he demanded.

ALSO READ: Rajasthan Bans Clicking of Pictures while Handing Over COVID-19 Essentials

It may be mentioned here that Bora had tweeted the letter saying, Taken up with DC

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.