Congress demands action against Himanta Biswa for threats against ally Hagrama

GUWAHATI: Congress today wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner of India seeking a blanket ban on Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning in the Assam elections for making "open public threats" against Bodoland People's Front (BPF) supremo Hagrama Mohilary.

Dashing off a petition to the ECI's headquarter in the national capital, the Congress claimed that Sarma had made "open public threats" after foreseeing the "looming defeat of his party" in the three-phase election.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of a rally, Sarma had said that Mohilary will be jailed if found to be "encouraging" former NDFB militant M Batha to return to the jungles.

"By virtue of the present memorandum, we would like to draw this Hon’ble Commission’s urgent attention towards senior BJP leader, Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma’s open public threats, who foreseeing the looming defeat of his party, has made blatant, scandalous and intimidating statements on 29.03.2021 wherein he has openly threatened his opponent party, INC alliance partner & Bodoland People’s Front Chairperson Shri Hagrama Mohilary of sending him to jail by misusing the Central Agency – NIA which is under the direct administrative control of the BJP led Central Government," read the petition undersigned by a bevy of senior Congress leaders including Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ajay Maken.

The Congress further charged that by the said threats, Biswa Sarma has also attempted to influence the voters to not vote for the INC alliance, including Mohilary's BPF.

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"Sarma has sought to cast a malicious and malafide impression on the public at large, that on account of the undue strength of the BJP led Central Government manning the Central agencies, Shri Sarma is in an undue position to control/ misuse the NIA and hence capable of sending Shri Mohilary to jail," the petition further added.

In view of the circumstances, the Congress has urged the EC to grant a personal/ virtual hearing to an INC delegation comprising of senior leaders and MPs, at the earliest.

Secondly, it has sought the disqualification of the candidature of Himanta Biswa Sarma from the Assembly elections.

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Thirdly, it has asked the election body to prohibit Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning during the remainder of the election period.

It has also asked the EC to issue directions for the filing of an FIR against Himanta Biswa Sarma for violation of Sections 123(2)(a)(i), 123(4), 123(7) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and Section 171C of the Indian Penal Code.

The Congress has also asked the Commission to initiate action against the BJP under Section 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to withdraw its recognition for its alleged violation of the MCC.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh today said that Sarma has made a "mockery of the democratic process by resorting to blatant threatening."

"When the Model Code of Conduct is in effect, the administration including Police is under Election Commission of India to ensure fairness and impartiality. How did he receive information about the alleged terrorist link as claimed? Where did this evidence surface from? If he already had this evidence, why did he not provide the evidence to investigative agencies? Criminal action must be initiated against him for not providing terrorists related information to the State," Vallabh told scribes here earlier, adding, that it is a clear case of blackmailing and threatening their opponents to negate people’s support to the Congress and its allies.

The Election Commission announced the poll dates for the Assembly election in Assam on Friday (26 February). Elections in Assam are being held in three phases between 27 March and 6 April.

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