Congress ignored contributions of national leaders in freedom

Senior BJP leader and Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged here Sunday that the Congress has ignored the contributions of great national leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the freedom struggle.

"In India's struggle for independence, the sacrifice of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is there.. the sacrifice of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is there.

But, in any meeting of Congress, Mahatma Gandhi's name is not taken.. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's name is not taken.. Subhash Chandra Bose's name is not taken," he said, addressing a national convention of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of BJP.

The contribution of such leaders, including Sardar Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Gopinath Bordoloi, is now being acknowledged under the present Modi government, said Sarma, who is Assam's Finance and Health Minister.

The BJYM activists say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai,' but in Congress, the party's workers say 'Rahul Gandhi ka Jai,' he claimed.

Recalling that he was with Congress for 25 years prior to joining the BJP, Sarma said he and other Congress workers thought BJP to be a communal party.

However, after joining BJP and meeting its leaders, he felt that he wasted 25 years in Congress, he said.

Claiming that first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had "bid good bye to Assam from India" when China invaded the north east in 1962, Sarma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the north eastern states as "Ashta Lakshmi" (goddess Lakshmi).

Alleging that "Bangladeshi infiltrators occupied the north east," the BJP leader said the central government has started the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.

He expressed confidence that the saffron party would romp home in Mizoram, where polls are scheduled to be held on November 28.

The Congress does not have any policy and it describes GST as 'Gabbar Singh Tax' and demands that petrol and diesel be brought under its ambit, he alleged, adding that it is raising a hue and cry on Rafale deal without having any agenda.

The Rs 58,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal has been at the centre of a raging political row with the Congress accusing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of wrongdoing. The government has rejected all allegations.

Sarma asserted that BJP would win the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 with a thumping majority on the strength of BJYM.