Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Archives - Lokmarg

Cong Will Not Get More Than 30-40 LS Seats: Himanta

By Pankaj Molekhi 7th March 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the Congress will not get more than 30 to 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and post elections there will be a decline of the grand old party.

Speaking at the Republic TV Summit 2024, the Assam CM also mentioned that his wish is that the Congress should be reduced to 11 seats but that would not happen.

“My wish is that they (Congress) should reduce to 11 (the number of players in the Indian Cricket team) but it would not happen. Congress will not get more than 30 to 40 Lok Sabha seats. They have already become a regional party. After staying in that party for years, I am predicting that in many state there would be a regional Congress, not a national one.”

He also predicted that family politics will cease to exit after the Lok Sabha polls and the emergence of development based politics.

“Post-election, You will see a decline in Congress and an end to family politics. No family politics will survive in this country after this election. A new politics will emerge where people will compete for development,” he said.

He further said that the grand old party have nothing to silence the development journey of the Prime Minister.

“PM Modi recently inaugurated projects in Assam worth 16,000 crore. The day after tomorrow, he will again visit. On March 23, he will lay the foundation of 30,000 crore investments. Wherever he is visiting, you can see what kind of development is taking place. Now Congress is not questioning the numbers, they have nothing to silence the development journey of the Prime Minister. PM has proposed development,” he added.

“This is just a trailer of what has happened in the last 10 years. The whole picture is yet to be seen,” Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted.

The Assam CM emphasized that one has to analyse the Prime Minister from his larger vision. Was it, not Delhi that hosted the G20 summit? He could have taken it to Gujarat. Is it not indirectly helping Kejriwal enhance the National Capital?

Further, speaking on him being an Anti-Muslim, CM Himanta Biswa said that anyone can visit Assam and see the love and affection he gets from the Muslims.

“I am anti-Owaisi or anti-Rahul Gandhi, but when it comes to the Muslims, anyone can come to Assam and see the Muslim-dominated areas, that is how much love and affection I get from them. These customs of having two marriages are not in the Holy Book Quran. One should respect the holy book of every religion,” he said.

“Every state of the northeast is not the same. The Manipur crisis was between two communities but the fact was that neither Meiti nor Kuki was criticising the BJP because they had reconciled to the fact that it was our issue and they met us with that only. Indian government announced to fence the India-Myanmar border. Meities are welcoming it but Nagas, Kukis, and Mizos are opposing it. There is a lot of contradiction in the North-east. These are not created by the BJP it was there since the beginning. Nobody is criticizing PM Modi. Have you seen any Kuki or Meiti people criticising the Prime Minister?” CM Himanta Biswa said. (ANI)

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Assam CM Asks State Police To File Complaint Against Rahul

By LokMarg 23rd January 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday instructed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly “provoking crowd.”

The Congress leader is leading the party’s Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Earlier in the day, Congress workers who were stopped from entering Guwahati city clashed with Assam police.

In a post on social media platform X, chief minster Sarma said “Naxalite tactics” were alien to the Assam’s culture.

“These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “Naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed DGP Assam Police to register a case against your leader Rahul Gandhi for provoking the crowd and use the footage you have posted on your handles as evidence. Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati now,” Sarma said on X.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier today claimed that he was not allowed to interact with students of the state.

Heavy security was deployed at Khanapara Area, the entry point of Guwahati for the Yatra earlier this morning. A large number of police were present at the scene to stop the yatra from entering Guwahati.

Rahul Gandhi was seen addressing party workers standing on top of a bus. Assam Congress took to social media platform X to state “CM @himantabiswa has been using every ploy to derail the #BharatJodoNyayYatra right from day 1, whether by using his goons, @assampolice or administration. Tearing off posters, banners, hoardings & finally barricading the Yatra down at Batadraba. While a roadshow was allowed when @JPNadda Ji visited Guwahati, today the yatra was not allowed through the city citing security reasons. APCC president @BhupenKBorah led the protest against police oppression. Our fight for justice will continue…”

Rahul Gandhi earlier said that efforts are being made to enslave students of North East and India, adding “There is no need for any student to be afraid.”

He also alleged that the Home Minister of the country had given instructions to prevent him from meeting students of Assam.

“We are being stopped everywhere. The Home Minister of the country picked up the phone and called CM Himanta and said that Rahul Gandhi should not meet the students of Assam. That’s not important whether Rahul Gandhi comes here or not. What’s important is that the students must be allowed to listen to whomever they want to. But it is not happening in any schools and colleges in Assam. You are being told that you cannot speak your language. You are being told that you cannot have your history,” he said. (ANI)

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Assam CM Trying His Best Not To Allow Yatra In Guwahati: Jairam

By LokMarg 20th January 2024

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is putting all efforts to prevent the party’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra program in Guwahati on January 23.

“On January 23, as per our schedule, we will be staying at Guwahati. We are trying our best to carry on with our Yatra as planned. Assam Chief Minister is trying his best not to allow our event in Guwahati. Several obstacles are being posed in front of us…We have written two letters to the Chief Minister,” Jairam Ramesh said speaking at a press conference at Assam’s Lakhimpur on Saturday along with Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Kumar Borah.

On the party’s efforts to clear the way ahead of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’s scheduled plan at Guwahati on Tuesday, Ramesh said, “Our Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has gone to Guwahati for ongoing talks with the police and the Chief Minister’s office about our program on January 23…Rahul Gandhi will interact with youths, about unemployment and the education system in Guwahati and will address a press conference.”

Sharing the schedule of Rahul Gandhi’s foot march on Saturday, “Today Rahul Gandhi will reach Itanagar at around 3 pm where a walk has been organized and a public meeting will be held.”

Jairam Ramesh said that a public rally has been scheduled on January 22 in the afternoon at Assam’s Kaliyabor in which Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address the public.

“A public rally will be organized in Kaliyabor in which Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address the public. We will be in Assam till January 25. On the afternoon of January 25, we will reach north Bengal and take a night halt at Alipurduar. On January 26 and 27, the Yatra will take a break…On January 26 and 27, Rahul Gandhi will be in Delhi,” the senior Congress leader said.

“On January 28, we will continue with our Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in north Bengal where Rahul Gandhi will also be participating,” he added.

Speaking about the ideological framework of the Yatra, Jairam Ramesh said that it is based on the Preamble of our Constitution.

“The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is based on the Preamble of our Constitution. We want to give social, economic and political justice to people. For Rahul Gandhi, justice stands for justice for women, for youth, for farmers, labourers and equal distribution of resources. All these are connected by the environment,” Jairam Ramesh said.

On environmental injustice, Ramesh said, “For the last 10 years, our environment has been suffering from the brunt of injustice. Our forest protection law was weakened…environmental laws are weakened, and people are dying of pollution, not just in Delhi but throughout the country.”

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the senior Congress leader said, “Prime Minister goes abroad and lectures on environment, but what about our country, our environmental laws, our agencies which are supposed to protect our environment?”

Earlier in the day, the Congress General Secretary shared that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Bordowa Satra in Assam’s Nagaon district, the birthplace of Sri Sankardev on Pran Pratishtha day, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday.

“January 22 is the ninth day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. At 7 am, Rahul Gandhi will be going to Bordowa Satra in Nagaon district, which is the birthplace of Sri Sri Sankardev and pay his tributes to him,” Jairam Ramesh told ANI on Saturday at Assam’s Lakhimpur. (ANI)

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Bhutan King On 8-Day Official Visit To India

By LokMarg 3rd November 2023

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in Assam for an official visit to India from November 3-10. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received the Bhutan Royal at the Guwahati airport.

King Wnagchuck is accompanied by senior officials of the royal government of Bhutan.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said he is “elated” to welcome Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Taking to X, Sarma stated, “On behalf of the people of Assam, I am elated to welcome His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan. Under the guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, we look forward to the strengthening of the special relationship between our two countries.”

Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, “A warm welcome to His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on his first official visit to Assam. Welcomed by CM @himantabiswa at the Guwahati airport.”

During his visit, Bhutan King will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. Furthermore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior officials of the Indian government will call on Bhutan King.

The Bhutanese King is also slated to travel to Maharashtra.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, “India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation, which are characterized by understanding and mutual trust. The visit would provide an opportunity to both the sides to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the exemplary bilateral partnership, across diverse sectors.”

Earlier, this April the Bhutanese king had visited India and met with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Briefing reporters after the April 5 meeting between PM Modi and the Bhutan King, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra had said the two countries are examining and considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post (ICP) along India-Bhutan border.

Responding to a volley of questions on remarks of Bhutan Prime Minister which were perceived to be at variance with Thimpu’s earlier stance on the boundary issue vis-a-vis China, Kwatra said India and Bhutan remain in close touch, in close coordination relating to shared national interests, including security interest.

He said both countries maintain a longstanding tradition of very close consultations on matters relating to their mutual interest including security and “in this context the intertwined and indivisible nature of our security concerns is self-evident”. (ANI)

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SC Refuses To Stay delimitation Exercise Underway In Assam

By LokMarg 24th July 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the ongoing delimitation exercise underway in Assam but agreed to hear a challenge made to it by opposition leaders of the state.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued notice to the Centre on the plea and asked Centre to file affidavit within three weeks.
Refusing to stay the delimitation process of Election Commission initiated in Assam, the bench said it wouldn’t issue any order restraining poll panel to take any further steps regarding delimitation exercise in the state.

“At this stage when delimitation has commended having due regard to issuance of the draft proposal on June 20, 2023, it would not be proper to interdict the process at this stage. Hence, while reserving the constitutional challenge, we are not issuing any orders restraining the Election Commission to take any further steps”, the apex court stated in its order.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by ten opposition leaders from Assam challenging the recent draft proposal of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the delimitation of Assam’s 126 Assembly constituencies and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies.

The petition also challenged Section 8A of the Representation of People Act, 1950 as per which the Election Commission is exercising its power in conducting the delimitation process.

The petitioners filing the petition through advocate advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi challenged the provision on the grounds of the same being arbitrary and opaque apart from also being discriminatory to the State of Assam.

The petitioners who have filed the petition are Lurinjyoti Gogoi (Assam Jatiya Parishad), Debabrata Saikia (INC), Rokibul Hussain (INC), Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal), Manoranjan Talukdar (CPI(M)), Ghanakanta Chutia (Trinamool Congress), Munin Mahanta (CPI), Diganta Konwar (Anchalik Gana Morcha), Mahendra Bhuyan (Nationalist Congress Party), and Swarna Hazarika (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

The petitioners have challenged recent proposals of the ECI readjusting the extent of 126 Assembly and 14 Lok Sabha Constituencies in Assam by a draft order issued on June 20.

The petition challenged the methodology adopted by the ECI by taking different Average Assembly Size for different districts and argues that population density or populous-ness has no role to play in the process of delimitation.

“While the Constitution of India envisages an exercise whereby Constituencies are to be readjusted so as to ensure that all constituencies are comprised of an almost equal population, by relying on 2001 census figures, the Election Commission has created three categories of districts and has taken different yardstick for the three categories resulting in possible deviation of up to 33 per cent between the population of largest and smallest constituency,” the petition stated.

Petition contended that delimitation for the rest of the country has been conducted by a high powered body headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge and the same Commission was formed for Jammu and Kashmir as well.

“However, the provision of Section 8A discriminates against Assam and three North-Eastern States, for which the Election Commission has been prescribed as the authority to conduct delimitation,” it further stated.

The petition has also highlighted certain statements of the Chief Minister of Assam who has publicly stated that the present exercise will be beneficial to one party i.e., BJP while being damaging to other opposition parties.

Such statements, the petition submitted, while do not inspire any confidence in the exercise, also give rise to apprehensions that the ECI exercise has not been independent and has been heavily dictated by the State government, it added.

The apex court is also seized of two PILs regarding the delimitation of four North-Eastern States including Assam.

In December of last year, the Election Commission began the delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in Assam by using 2001 Census as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. (ANI)

Under Cong Tenure, Manipur Was Blockade: Sarma

By LokMarg 22nd July 2023

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday launched a scathing attack at Congress and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) over its tenure in Manipur till 2017 stating that northeastern state had became the blockade capital of the country during their ruling period and now on the contrary Congress has started displaying immense interest in the state.

In this regard, Assam CM Sarma took to Twitter and said, “Congress is suddenly displaying immense interest in Manipur. Important to rewind a bit and look at PM Manmohan Singh’s own response to similar crises in the State. The party’s duplicity is simply alarming.”
He further stated that every year there were blockades in the state for over a month during UPA tenure in Manipur.

“During UPA’s tenure, Manipur became the blockade capital of the country. Between 2010-2017, when Congress ruled the State, every year there were blockades ranging from 30 days a year to upto 139 days a year,” he further tweeted.

He also mentioned that year 2011 was one of the worst bloackades in Manipur which lasted for more than 120 days and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi remained silent on issue for more than four months.

“Petrol and LPG prices went upto Rs 240 and Rs 1,900 a litre during each of these blockades, translating into a complete humanitarian crisis. 2011 was one of the worst blockades in Manipur lasting more than 120 days,” he said.

In Manipur, two women were paraded naked and sexually assaulted before being set free by the mob comprising the majority community. The incident allegedly took place on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur.

The violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Recently. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke about the Manipur viral video that showed two women being paraded naked.

The Prime minister said, “I am filled with pain and the incident is shameful for any civil society.”

“No accused will spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this,” he said.

Amidst a nationwide outcry over the appalling incident in Manipur, the UNAU students forum organised a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

A video of the two-month-old incident had gone viral evoking strong sharp reactions from various political parties and triggering outrage. (ANI)

WB Poll Violence: 133 People Sought Refuge In Assam, Says Biswa Sarma

By LokMarg 11th July 2023

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that 133 individuals who feared for their lives sought refuge in Assam’s Dhubri district amid violence in West Bengal during panchayat polls.

“Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them shelter in a relief camp, food, and medical assistance”, CM Sarma shared in a tweet.

The people have now taken shelter at Ronpagli MV School of Jhapusabari area in Dhubri district, the CM added.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state government has provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance.

West Bengal State Election Commission on Sunday said the Police have confirmed 10 deaths in poll-related violence across the state.

The West Bengal State Election Commission stated that the police confirmed 10 deaths in the poll-related violence on Saturday that broke out in several parts of West Bengal on the day of the Panchayat Polls.

“Police have confirmed 10 deaths in poll-related violence,” said the West Bengal State Election Commission on Panchayat polls.

On Sunday, coming down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee government over the widespread violence during the panchayat elections in West Bengal on Saturday, Union Minister Nishith Pramanik said the single-phased polls were not a festival of the republic but a festival of death.

Multiple incidents of violence earlier on Saturday cast a long shadow on the conduct of the panchayat polls across the state. A person received fatal injuries after being hit by a crude explosive in the Phul Malancha polling booth in South 24 Pargana district.

“The person is feared dead but the same hasn’t been confirmed by the doctors as yet. The crude bomb had struck the victim’s head. He was admitted to Basanti rural hospital (in the South 24 Parganas district),” Dibakar Das, the SDPO, said. (ANI)

Assam: Over 4.89L People Affected In 16 Districts

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

The flood situation in Assam is still grim as nearly 4.89 lakh people in 19 districts have been affected.

In the last 24 hours, one person drowned in flood waters in Nalbari district taking the death toll to two.
According to the flood report of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 2.67 lakh people have been affected alone in Bajali district followed by 80,061 people affected in Nalbari, 73,233 people in Barpeta, 22,577 people in Lakhimpur, 14,583 people in Darrang, 14180 people in Tamulpur, 7,282 people in Baksa, 4,750 people in Goalpara district.

The flood waters have submerged 10782.80 hectares of cropland.

1,538 villages under 54 revenue circles in Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Udalguri district have been affected in the deluge.

Following the torrential rains, the water level of the Brahmaputra River is flowing above the danger level mark at Neamatighat in Jorhat district and at Dhubri, Manas River at Nh Road Crossing, Pagladiya River at Nt Road Crossing, Puthimari river at Nh Road Crossing.

The district administration has set up 140 relief camps, and 75 relief distribution centres in flood-hit districts and 35142 people have taken shelter in these relief camps.

On the other hand, many others have taken shelter on roads, highlands, and embankments.

The ASDMA flood report also stated that 427474 domestic animals have also affected by the flood.

In the last 24 hours, the flood waters breached 1 embankment and damaged 14 other embankments, 213 roads, 14 bridges, several agri bundhs, school buildings, irrigation canals, and culverts.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in the Bajali district is still critical as 2,67,253 people from 191 villages have been affected.

According to the ASDMA, 176678 people have been affected in the Bajali revenue circle and 90575 people in the Sarupeta revenue circle in the district.

The flood waters also submerged 368.30 hectares of cropland in the district.

Around 200 families in the Doloi Gaon Shantipur village area have been badly affected after the flood waters of the Pahumara River breached a large portion of the embankment and the villagers are now taking shelter on the embankment, road by making makeshift tents.

Kamal Barman, a flood-affected villager said that as many as 8-10 houses in the village were washed away by the flood waters.

“The flood waters breached the embankment at around 3 am morning and all villagers were sleeping at that time. The villagers didn’t able to get out their stuff at that time. The people just moved to a safer place. The villagers are now facing lots of problems as rain is also continuing and they are also facing a food crisis,” Kamal Barman said.

Abanita Das, another villager said that the flood waters submerged the entire village and entered their homes.

“We weren’t able to get out our household goods, stuff because of the high level of water. We are now taking shelter at this embankment. The flood waters washed away all stuff from our home. We don’t have any food. We don’t have tarpaulin to make a makeshift tent or items for cook. Now there is 4-5 feet of water on the road and can’t go to another place. We are also facing a drinking water problem,” Abanita Das said.

Hriday Talukdar said that the flood waters totally damaged his house and washed away all household goods.

NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency services and Civil Defence personnel are engaged in rescue operations in different flood-hit districts. (ANI)

‘Anti-Child Marriage Campaign A Ploy To Target Assam Muslims’

By LokMarg 18th February 2023

Dr Dibyajyoti Saikia a human rights and social activist in Guwahati, says Himanta Biswa Sarma is trying to please the RSS leadership by repeatedly launching anti-Muslim drives

On the directions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP-led Assam government has created a stir across the state and in India by arresting 2,000 men within the first 48 hours of the current anti-child marriage operation. About 3,000 people have been arrested so far. The district court has released 24 people on bail within 24 hours after their arrest in Majuli — the world’s largest river island and a precious heritage site.

If you closely examine the current controversy, not only have individuals from one community been arrested, or, people who believe in a certain religion have been targeted, but people from other communities and religions have also been arrested in the name of preventing child marriage. One thing is true — among those arrested, the number of arrests of Muslim people is the highest.

From the day the campaign started, till date, two women have died of heart attack. There has been widespread fear, anxiety and suffering. But the government is oblivious of the misery and distress it has caused to the people it is meant to serve. Clearly, there is an agenda behind the whole campaign.

ALSO READ: ‘NRC – Misinformation Is Rife, Muslims Are Scared’

Currently, it seems that the policy of the BJP is to garner the votes of Hindus by opposing ordinary Muslims, and not only by the use of speech. Interestingly, the BJP leaders have a good relationship with Muslim leaders of the state. It appears to me that both sides have been happily polarizing society and playing politics with the common man.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been playing to the gallery to appease the hardliner in the saffron family. The RSS would love the chief minister if he continued taking anti-Muslim stances. Keeping the RSS pleased is a task now being undertaken by the current chief minister. However, this doesn’t mean that the chief minister loves Hindus a lot. In the current circumstances, the BJP government in the state has no other programme than playing politics of vested interests.

The failure of the NRC (National Register of Citizens) and CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) in Assam and India is a reality. But, though I can’t say it straight away, the current move on Child Marriage Prevention campaign is an alternative plan. I think the present chief minister has a personal agenda to keep the communal pot boiling. He routinely makes provocative (read anti-Muslim) comments to corner publicity and staying in limelight at the national level.

One thing is certain: this anti-child marriage campaign has scared a large number of Muslims in Assam. They are being intimidated and harassed. It will require a social movement by civil society in the state and at national level to uncover the BJP campaign and force them to withdraw such blatantly communal campaigns.

As told to Amit Sengupta

RSS Dangerous Than PFI: AIDUF MLA

By LokMarg 24th December 2022

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam on Saturday said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is more “dangerous” than the Popular Front of India (PFI).

He further said that if the party comes to the power, it would take action against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
“Organizations like RSS and Bajrang are more dangerous than PFI. We demand the government that these organizations should be banned,” Aminul Islam said.

“If AIUDF will form a government in Assam then it will take action against these organizations,” he further said.

The AIUDF MLA also said that the court will decide whether those 53 arrested people were involved in Jihadi activities or not as the government claimed.

Notably, the Assam government on Saturday said that 53 ‘jihadis’ including a Bangladeshi national have been arrested in the state so far in 2022.

Replying to a query by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Terash Gowalla, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who also holds the Home Department said on the last day of the winter session of the State Assembly that since March 2022, a total of nine cases linked with jihadi activities have been registered in Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Morigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Tamulpur and Nalbari districts.

He informed me that the case registered in the Barpeta district has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“One Bangladeshi national Saiful Islam alias Harun Rashid alias Suman was arrested by Assam Police in connection with the Barpeta Police Station case under relevant sections of IPC, UA(P) Act, Passport Act, and Foreigners Act. He was engaged as Imam of Dhakaliapara Mosque and Arabic teacher at Josihatipara Saikhul Hind Mahmudul Hasan Jamiul Huda Islamic Academy,” the Assam Chief Minister said.

CM Sarma further said that five Bangladeshi nationals Usman alias Aminul Islam alias Mehdi Hasan, Abdullah Talha alias Jakir Bhai, Mehbub alias Mehbubur Rahman, Alamgir alias Mohammad Talha and Jahangir alias Ibrahim alias Hanif are still absconding. (ANI)