'Huta, Kombol, Lungi Policy' of Congress no longer relevant: Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

JORHAT: Never losing an opportunity to slam the opposition Congress ahead of the ensuing polls in Assam, the state's Health, Education, and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the Grand Old Party's policy of appeasing people by giving them huta (yarn), kombol (blanket), and athua (mosquito net) in lead up to polls has been replaced with more progressive policies by the saffron brigade, with a primary focus on 'Education.'

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"It was a policy meant to help the poor; however, these things -- the huta, kombol, lungi were given only once -- during election time. Therefore, we have decided to put an emphasis on development through the means of education. It is because, if a youth can become educated, his parents won't have to worry about dhotis or lungis, the Minister said, adding that the "free" education policy in Assam has impacted over 4 lakh people.

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Slamming Congress Ripun Bora's statement that only the Grand Old Party can salvage 'Assamese identity', Biswa Sarma said, "Ripun Bora recently declared in a char area that he would give land pattas to the dwellers. He has also said that they will set up a Miya museum, Miya poetry, and Miya public school in the sacred Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra. If that is the meaning of Assamese identity, there is no scope of saying anything else," said Sarma.

Asked about choosing defected Congress candidates to contest the polls on BJP tickets, the Minister said, "We are analyzing the areas where we did not perform well. Say we did not win the Panchayat Seat, or Assembly Seat in an area -- we are likely to bring in new people who can fill in the gaps."

Taking potshots at the new regional parties of Assam, Biswa Sarma stated that the "politics" of these new parties are confined to the television talk shows and press clubs. "Every month, they are delaying the formation of booth committees. The day of the election will soon come, and on that day, they will declare that they will win the election based on the goodwill alone."

Election to the 126-member Assam Assembly is due by May.

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