Himanta Biswa Sarma showed no remorse for implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. Speaking to the media, the top BJP leader and NEDA chief said: “If working for the benefit of the people is a crime, we will commit such crimes again and again. If they burn our headquarters for working for the benefit of the people, let them.”
Expressing support for the Prime Minister’s Northeast agenda, Biswa Sarma added: “Narendra Modi has saved the Assamese people from foreign aggression today by showing resolve to grant ST status to the six agitating communities of Assam as well as implementing the sixth clause of the Assam Accord.”
“We invite them to burn our houses”, said the BJP leader, referring to the acts of vandalism committed by protesters of the contentious Bill, who set fire to BJP headquarters situated all over the state.”
Commenting on the implementation of the Bill, Biswa Sarma said: “If this Bill had not been passed eighteen Vidhan Sabha seats would have been handed over to Badruddin Ajmal and Jinnah.”
Sarma alleged that the Trinamool Congress and Indian National Congress have given citizenship status to Bangladeshi Muslims in India. “If not on the basis of religion, on what basis will we make the rules? There is nothing apologetic about it.”
Sarma also alleged that the details about the Bill have been distorted by the opposition. He also blasted allegations that 1 crore 70 lakh Bangladeshis will enter the state after implementation of the Bill and called it “propaganda” meant to appoint Badruddin Ajmal as the next Chief Minister.