Guwahati, April 4: Assam Minister and BJP leader Pijush Hazarika on April 4 launched a strong attack on opposition parties, questioning the financial feasibility of their election promises and describing the Congress manifesto as repetitive.
Taking aim at Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, Hazarika questioned how an opposition-led government would manage its finances. He challenged Gogoi to clarify whether such a government would rely on loans, noting that opposition parties have frequently criticised the BJP over borrowing.
“I want to ask Akhil Gogoi, in his hypothetical government, will they take loans or not? They keep blaming us for taking loans,” Hazarika said. He further argued that borrowing is a routine part of governance, asking whether states governed by opposition parties should also stop taking loans.
He also raised concerns about funding welfare schemes, alleging that expanding benefits such as the Orunodoi scheme without adequate financial planning could strain state resources.
Turning his criticism towards the Congress, Hazarika described its guarantees as “copy-paste,” claiming that the party was merely replicating existing BJP schemes with marginal increases in benefits. He questioned the novelty of such promises, citing examples like enhanced financial assistance and expanded health coverage.
Referring to Congress-ruled states, he alleged that financial management challenges elsewhere reflect shortcomings in what he termed the “Congress model” of governance.
The remarks come as political rhetoric intensifies in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections, with parties sharpening their positions on welfare, governance and fiscal management.
