Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday attacked the opposition, claiming there was a growing trend of not allowing “native Hindu MPs” to speak in the assembly.
During the discussion on the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024, Sarma made the remark after opposition members interrupted a speech by his party's MP Bhuban Pegu.
“There is a new trend in Parliament to not allow local Hindu MPs to speak. This is a dangerous trend. Please do not be so aggressive. Do not try to take over the Assembly after our country,” Sarma said.
ALSO READ – Assam passes law requiring registration of Muslim marriages and divorces. What it means
Discussions on Hindu-Muslim issues are inevitable: CM Himanta
MLA Pegu spoke about old Assembly records regarding alleged migration and aggression from the then East Bengal to Assam.
Sarma defended Pegu, saying that discussions on Hindu-Muslim issues were inevitable as “these are harsh realities of life.” He said that people had to declare their religion even in the census.
The bill was finally passed by the Assembly.
Sarma said it represents the struggle of the Assamese community for survival, which he said is “on the verge of extinction”. He said there is a loss of land in districts like Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Darrang, Nagaon and Morigaon.
“Now we are fighting for survival,” added the Prime Minister.
In protest against Sarma's statements, the Congress members left the House of Representatives.
ALSO READ – BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi wants Muslims to give up their 'decades-old fashion'
Opposition demands that the President dismiss Sarma for inciting division
A delegation of the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) on Thursday submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu demanding the dismissal of CM Himanta. They accused Sarma of failing to maintain law and order and of creating division among the communities through his statements.
Led by Pardyut Bordoloi, Congress MP in Lok Sabha, and Lurinjyoti Gogoi, General Secretary of UOFA, the delegation handed over the memorandum to the President through Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Raj Bhavan.
ALSO READ – Kangana Ranaut reacts to Punjab leader’s shocking remark on his ‘rape experience’: ‘India will never stop trivialising…’
The opposition parties alleged that Sarma had made a number of provocative statements over the past two years, including comments against the Muslim community. They also alleged that Sarma had incited certain youths to drive out religious minorities from Guwahati, who worked as vegetable vendors, rickshaw pullers, private drivers and construction workers, about a year ago.
(PTI inputs)
