Cong, BJP spar over 'fake' image of Assam's tea gardens

'BJP is rattled by Congress’ guarantee of Rs 365 per day within 30 days of coming to power,' Congress hits back

With the Assam assembly elections nearing and political parties actively campaigning across multiple platforms, a new row brews over the Congress party's support for the workers in the state's tea gardens.

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"People of Assam were cheated by a party (BJP) five years ago that promised them 25 lakh jobs but gave them CAA instead. Our party isn't making empty promises but undertaking five guarantees. This election is about trust, it is a fight to save the identity of the state and its people," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said.

Following this, Congress posted on its campaign handle 'Assam Bachao' two images of engaged tea gardens and stating them to be 'Assam tea gardens' and that the party was 'Team Garden workers'.

Flagging the matter, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "Official Congress campaign page is using photo of tea garden from Taiwan to say 'Assam Bachao'," along with a screenshot from online image checking platform 'Fotosearch' that said it was a photo from the Nantou Tea garden in Taiwan.

According to a report by India Today, a reverse search of both the images showed that neither of the posted images is from Assam, but from Taiwan.

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The first image is of the Bagua tea garden, the second one is of the Bihu tea garden both in Taiwan, the report claimed.

"Congress leaders can't even recognise Assam? This is an insult of Assam and Tea Garden workers of our state. #CongressInsultsAssam," the Sarma said on the micro-blogging site.

Reacting to the minister's allegation, Congress said on its 'Assam Bachao' Twitter handle, "This is a fake screenshot. We never published any such image anywhere. Having failed to keep its promise of raising tea workers’ wages to Rs 350, BJP is rattled by Congress’ guarantee of Rs 365 per day within 30 days of coming to power."

Earlier, on March 2, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had announced five guarantees of the grand alliance - one of which is hikingthe minimum daily wages of tea garden workers to Rs 365.

"People of Assam were cheated by a party (BJP) five years ago that promised them 25 lakh jobs but gave them CAA instead. Our party isn't making empty promises but undertaking five guarantees. This election is about trust, it is a fight to save the identity of the state and its people," the Congress leader, who sported the traditional 'gamocha' around her neck which had the letters 'CAA' crossed out on it, said.

Assam has 126 assembly constituencies where elections will be held in three phases, on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

In the first of the three phases, 47 constituencies will go for polls. In the second phase, polling will be held in 39 constituencies and in the third phase, 40 constituencies.

The last date for filing of nomination for the first phase is March 9, for the second phase it is March 12 and for the third phase, the last date of submitting nomination papers is March 19.

Assam Assembly Election Result 2016