Priyanka Gandhi Fires Salvo at BJP in Guwahati

Guwahati: Launching a sharp attack on the ruling BJP government in Assam, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on February 19 questioned the state’s record on women’s safety and employment, accusing the government of prioritising optics over accountability.

Addressing a public gathering in the city, she alleged that financial handouts distributed to women ahead of elections cannot substitute for long-term security, dignity and economic independence. She challenged the government to explain what tangible steps had been taken over the past five years to ensure women’s safety and create stable job opportunities for young people.

“Before elections, money is transferred. But were women safer during these years? Did they receive opportunities to build independent lives?” she asked, pointing to what she described as rising crime rates and persistent unemployment among the youth.

Gandhi also accused the BJP of using welfare announcements to deflect attention from deeper governance issues. She alleged that the state’s resources were increasingly being concentrated in the hands of a select few, claiming that public wealth was not reaching ordinary citizens.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leader released a 20-point “chargesheet” against the government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The document, prepared by a committee headed by MP Pradyut Bordoloi, outlines the party’s allegations on governance, economic management and law and order ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The chargesheet was unveiled at Manvendra Sharma Complex in Guwahati in the presence of senior state leaders. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi said Gandhi’s visit reflected the party’s preparedness for the electoral battle. He noted that her leadership of the party’s Screening Committee underscored the Congress’s intent to mount a strong challenge in the state.

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