Prove ‘deadly nexus’ or apologise: Cong to Sarma

Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam minister) is forcefully trying to link the violent incidents with the Congress by naming some of our youth leaders. They were indeed present at the site like many other true Assamese. But does it prove that they were involved in violence?

–RIPUN BORA, Assam Congress president

The Opposition Congress on Wednesday challenged the Assam government to prove that violent protests against the new citizenship law were the result of a “deadly nexus” among a section of Congress workers, “urban Naxals” and Islamic outfit, the Popular Front of India (PFI).

Senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said there may be a “deadly nexus” among the three that had tried to burn down the state secretariat during the December 11 protests and the NIA has been asked to probe the matter.

Alleging that the BJP-led state government is resorting to a tactic of threatening people to derail the movement, a senior Congress leader said if it failed to

prove the “deadly nexus” it should tender an apology.

“Himanta Biswa Sarma is forcefully trying to link the violent incidents with the Congress by naming some of our youth leaders. They were indeed present at the site like many other true Assamese. But does it prove that they were involved in violence?” state Congress president Ripun Bora told a press conference.

The Rajya Sabha MP said

the party will move the Assam Human Rights Commission against “wrongfully” picking up Congress workers across the state alleging their involvement in violence.

Bora charged Sarma with toeing the line put forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Congress is behind all the anti-citizenship law protests.

“We challenge the government and Himanta Biswa Sarma to prove that the Congress

is behind the violence. If any concrete evidence is presented (against any Congress worker), we will take action against that person. Otherwise, Modi and Sarma should apologise for giving a peoples’ movement a particular colour,” Bora said.

Sarma, also the convener of the Northeast Democratic Association (NEDA), the NDA’s version in the region, had said on Tuesday a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incidents of violence that rocked the state during protests over the amended Citizenship Act last week.

“The BJP is trying to crush the movement. They are targeting select leaders and arresting them without any FIR or complaint. We condemn the way Akhil Gogoi has been treated - bringing him to the court with handcuffs on,” Bora said.