Assam poll hopefuls to ‘avoid’ CAA talk
NEW DELHI: Next year when Assam goes to the polls, chances are high that you won’t listen to any speech by BJP leaders on Citizenship Act (CAA).
So much so, the party leadership is being convinced to harp on development of Assam and project itself as an inclusive, secular party and not bring in divisive issues.
This is not a sudden decision, but the culmination of a long drawn understanding of Assam’s unique socio-cultural identity.
Last December, as many as 15 BJP legislators urged Assam Chief Minister Sarbanad Sonowal to “listen” to the anti-caa protesters, regardless of the party’s stated position on the legislation.
Assam was the first state that went up in arms against the CAA.
Now the move to tweak its public stand seems to have reached the BJP’S top leadership who have decided on a few things for the Assam elections - “the BJP will put up an inclusive face, the party will avoid indulging in polarising statements as far as practically possible, almost no mention of CAA during election speeches, highlighting how serious the Centre is to save Assam’s unique linguistic and cultural heritage and finally to chalk out its road map for the northeastern state for the next five years with ‘Vikas’ coming back to the discourse.
Top sources in the BJP has confirmed the same, adding that this will be the party’s strategy in Assam unless there is a major change in ground realities.
Party MLAS like Prasanta Phukan have convinced Sonowal that the BJP in Assam needs to be seen as “accommodative of views.”
Following the December meeting, the state BJP has made efforts reach out to the Assamese populace through peace processions.
Simultaneously, union Home Minister Amit Shah has held meetings with Sonowal as well as Himanta Biswa Sarma on the issue.
While on a national level, the party has hardened its stance, the BJP leadership is being convinced that it cannot afford to go to state elections next year with such a rigid view, sources said.
The realisation was emboldened after the Delhi poll debacle where Shaheen Bagh was made the central theme of BJP’S election campaign.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur was seen rabble rousing by giving speeches like, “Desh ke gaddaro ko,” as the crowd answered back, “Goli maro saalo ko.”