‘Infiltrator’ vs ‘mafia rule’: PM Modi, Priyanka Gandhi exchange barbs as Assam contest heats up

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday exchanged several barbs amid the high-stake contest in Assam where the assembly elections are scheduled on April 9. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI/PTI)Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who was in Assam for a campaign rally, accused the Himanta Biswa Sarma government of being corrupt and alleged a "mafia rule" in the state. The Congress leader, an MP from Wayanad, also raised Zubeen Garg's death and said seeking justice for a respected figure is a political duty rather than opportunism. Priyanka Gandhi made the remarks while addressing a rally in Nazira, Assam. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an infiltrator pitch and accused the Congress of being the "root cause of corruption". Also Read: ‘Beware of Congress, it is planning to bring a dangerous law in Assam’: PM Modi Modi alleged that the Congress, if it comes to power in Assam, will bring in a law to protect infiltrators. Addressing a rally in Gogamukh in Dhemaji, the PM claimed that the Congress aims to "turn the majority community into a minority and create a permanent vote bank of infiltrators". "Congress leaders are openly saying that they will bring a new law in Assam to protect infiltrators and are openly supporting them," Modi said. "For the Congress, there are two families -one in Delhi and another in Assam, and their priority is the interest of their families and not that of the people," the Prime Minister said, while referring to the Gandhi family and that of state Congress President Gaurav Gogoi. He said the Congress is "opposed to development and 'bhrastachar ki janani' (mother of corruption)". "They (Congress) have compromised with Assam's 'aatma' (soul), 'shaan' (pride), 'pehchan' (identity) and 'suraksha' (security)," Modi alleged, according to PTI. Also Read: Will use expulsion law to evict ‘Bangladeshi Miyas’: Assam CM Himanta as BJP releases poll manifesto Priyanka Gandhi lambasted the Assam government and accused it of corruption and alleged the state government of operating under "mafia and syndicate rule". The Congress leader said that the people of Assam were tired of the BJP government and wanted the state to rise. "This is a corrupt Govt. People can see how everything is being done through threats. There is mafia rule, syndicate rule. I think people are tired...They want the same Assam to rise, which once existed. They want a new government that would only work towards serving people. People know that our leader is honest and they want to bring him forward," Priyanka Gandhi said. Also Read: Don’t forgive Congress that treated Assam in step-motherly manner: Rajnath Speaking of famed singer Zubeen Garg, who died in a swimming incident, she said the Congress government, if elected to power, would provide justice to the Assamese singer. "The Congress government wants Zubeen Garg ji to get justice. Within 100 days, as soon as our government is formed, we will get him justice. Today, all local 'Bhumiputras' have received temporary land deeds. We will give permanent deeds instead of temporary ones to 10 lakh local sons of the soil," she said in a rally. Assam is seeing a direct contest between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly.