Congress slams Modi govt over Encephalitis deaths in Assam; hopes govt will take steps to prevent epidemic

The Congress on Monday hit out at the Modi government over the spread of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Assam and hoped that the Centre rises from its "deep slumber" to prevent any epidemic.

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) has now reached Assam as 10 people have lost their lives, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. He cited a media report which said Assam has so far recorded 10 deaths due to AES. "AES already killed 133 innocents in Bihar! Double Engine BJP governments have not learnt any lessons," Surjewala said.

"Hope central government rises from its deep slumber to prevent any epidemic!" he said.

The Congress also accused the Modi government of "punishing" lakhs of economically weaker students seeking education loans to pursue professional or technical courses.

"The BJP government punishes lakhs of economically weaker students by putting obstacles in eligibility criteria to avail education loans for pursuing professional or technical courses. Education loans restricted to only 1,056 institutions, education loans routed only via Vidyalaxmi portal," Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted.

He said: "The BJP government has virtually killed the education loan scheme for professional or technical courses and jeopardized future of our youth. Lack of awareness of new norms mean few apply for education loans and banks approved only 42,700 out of 1.44 lakh applications in past four years."

The report attached by Surjewala cited the latest set of guidelines issued by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry which said that the eligibility for the model educational loan scheme of the Indian Banks Association is restricted to students enrolling for professional and technical courses in accredited institutions of national importance and centrally-funded technical institutions.