iPhones, cash for best video suggestions for Congress' Assam manifesto

The move is part of the party’s two-week long Assam Bochau Ahok (Come, Let’s Save Assam) campaign.

Published on: Feb 9, 2021, 18:27:48 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The Congress in Assam is seeking ideas and suggestions in the form of short videos to help prepare its manifesto for the upcoming state polls. It is offering iphones and cash as rewards for the best suggestions.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi. The move is part of the party’s two-week long Assam Bochau Ahok (Come, Let’s Save Assam) campaign.

People have been asked to submit their two-minute-long videos to a new website to be created for the purpose.

“There would be daily evaluation of the videos and suggestions sent and prizes handed out. The best videos/suggestions would get iPhones and others would get cash rewards,” said Gaurav Gogoi.

“We request everyone to give us their valuable feedback as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is attempting to diminish conscience and self-respect of Assamese people,” he added.

Explaining the inspiration behind the idea for such a contest, the Congress MP recalled how during the anti-CAA protests in the state in 2019 people had uploaded videos of violence and exposed police excesses.

Gogoi alleged that the state BJP government was making people “beneficiaries and beggars” by doling out money and incentives.

Last month, the BJP had flagged off 50 audio-video vehicles to travel to all 126 constituencies in the state to collect opinion from voters and also showcase the government’s achievements in the past five years.

“Opinions and advice from the public will help us to perform better and continue our development work. The suggestions from the voters will also help us frame our manifesto for the polls,” chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had said at the flagging-off ceremony then.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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