Don’t know if Maha MLAs are staying in Assam: Sarma
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that he doesn’t know if Maharashtra legislators are camping in his state Assam.
Stating that legislators from other states can also come and stay in Assam, Mr Sarma also outright rejected charges of aiding a coup against Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray by hosting rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at a five-star hotel in Guwahati. He reiterated that he can’t stop anyone from visiting his state. He asserted, “I don’t know if Maharashtra MLAs are staying in Assam.”
Mr Sarma while speaking to reporters on Thursday had said, “40 people came to Assam. This is good. We are happy if more people come. We hardly have any tourists during this time. I will meet my MLA friends from Maharashtra if I find time today or tomorrow. Presently I am going to oversee the flood relief activities.”
Mr Sarma who was in New Delhi on Friday told reporters, “I invite MLAs from all over the country to visit Assam. How can I stop people from coming to a hotel? Can I tell you not to come to a hotel in Assam because there is a federal structure in the country? I am happy when anyone comes to Assam, they can stay as long as they want.”
On being asked about his message to Mr Thakeray, he said that he should also come on a vacation to the state.
Assam chief minister reiterated, “There are many good hotels in Assam. Why should people not come here?”
It is significant that about 40 Shiv Sena MLAs led by minister Eknath Shinde are camping in
Guwahati, challenging Mr Thackeray’s leadership and an alliance with the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
Mr Shinde’s camp is said to have succeeded in achieving the critical number of MLAs, 37, required to split the party in the assembly without falling foul of the anti-defection law.
Meanwhile, in view of the growing protest from Opposition parties, the deployment of security personnel in the hotel has been fortified further. Congress workers led by state president Bhupen Kumar Bora on Friday staged a protest outside the Radisson Blu hotel where dissident Sena legislators are staying.