JOIN USVote wisely, Manmohan Singh tells Assam voters
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday made an emotional appeal to the voters of Assam, his adopted state, to “vote wisely” to elect a government that would put the state back on the path of peace and development.
Recalling his long association with the state, Singh said the people of Assam had allowed him to serve as Finance Minister for five years and Prime Minister for 10 years.
Singh, 88, was a member of the Rajya Sabha for 28 years from 1991 to 2019 and a tenant of former chief minister Hiteshwar Saikia, who had let out his home to enable the former prime minister to become a registered voter in Assam.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust and affection of the people of Assam, and for the friendship of the late Hiteswar Saikia, and the late Tarun Gogoi,” he said.
He said Assam, which had endured terrible suffering due to insurgency and unrest, had made a new beginning under the leadership of Gogoi between 2001 and 2016.
“However, it is now facing very serious setbacks,” Singh said.
The former prime minister reminded the voters of five guarantees – work for repeal of Citizenship Amendment Act, 30 lakh new jobs, increase the wage of tea garden workers, free electricity and Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for housewives.
“Once again, the time has come for you to cast your ballot in the Vidhan Sabha elections. You must vote wisely,” Singh said.
Earlier, Singh had participated in a webinar organised by the Kerala Congress as part of the election campaign.
