Assam Cong chief in quarantine, blasts BJP for Dehing Patkai move

Guwahati: After being stranded in New Delhi for 58 days due to the ongoing lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic, Rajya Sabha MP and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Ripun Bora and his wife Monika Bora, a former MLA, reached Guwahati by train and are now in quarantine at a leading hotel in Guwahati.

The senior Congress leader had gone to Delhi on official work and had been stranded in the national capital since March 24 midnight, when the lockdown was imposed.

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On Wednesday, he returned to Guwahati by New Delhi-Guwahati Passenger Special train, which has been started for stranded people to return to their native places.

“I was in Delhi for 58 days due to the lockdown. I and my wife reached Guwahati last evening by train. As per rule we were taken to the Sarusajai Stadium for screening and we gave our swab samples. I am now in quarantine at Radisson Blu Hotel with my wife,” said Bora.

Thanking the party members and the people of the state who have been “working hard” during the pandemic, he said, “The people associated with the Congress have done a great job by helping the needy during the lockdown.”

Also Read: Congress to pay rail fare for migrant workers, says Sonia Gandhi

He also said the Congress members have distributed food, masks and sanitisers to the needy and this was a very commendable step during these “hard times”.

On the recent Centre move to allow extraction of coal at Saleki in Dehing Patkai elephant reserve in upper Assam, Bora also castigated the BJP-leg government in the Centre for allegedly ignoring the interest of the people of the Northeast, including Assam.

“Taking advantage of lockdown, BJP Govt’s decision to allow Coal India Limited for extraction of coal from 98.59 hectare of land at Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve in Assam, it exposes BJPs double standard of advocating for protection of environment & biodiversity,” Bora alleged.