GUWAHATI, Jan 4 - Finance Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the ruling BJP will retain power in Assam in 2021 Assembly elections.
Addressing a rally of the State BJP�s booth presidents and other elected representatives in the Veterinary College playground, Khanapara, here, Sarma also launched a blistering attack on the Congress and former Chief Minister and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, besides those who, according to the NEDA convenor, are planning to launch a new regional political outfit using the platform of the ongoing anti-CAA agitation.
The rally witnessed a crowd of around one lakh people in what was a clear show of strength by the ruling party, which has been on the back-foot for the past few weeks due to the anti-CAA stir. BJP working president JP Nadda was the chief guest at the today�s event, which was also attended by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior leaders of the saffron party.
Reminding the audience of the situation which had prevailed between December 9 and December 13, 2019, Sarma said that at that time it was impossible to imagine that within a month the BJP would be able to organise such a huge gathering in Guwahati.
�The dark clouds have scattered and there is sunshine once more. Only the BJP cadres can create such a miracle... I admit that we the ministers have security cover. But the common BJP cadres, who have no security, have proved that our party has a close relation with the soil, water and air of Assam... I would like to take this occasion to specially salute the cadres from Upper Assam who have kept the BJP flag flying despite being threatened, intimidated and assaulted... Those who have threatened and assaulted our cadres need to know that people of Assam will give them a fitting reply in 2021. The security provided by the people is the best one. People of Assam will provide us security and re-elect us in 2021,� Sarma said.
Turning to the Chief Minister, Sarma assured Sonowal that the latter is not alone.
�On January 1, the Chief Minister called upon everyone not to ostracize him. I want to tell the Chief Minister that it is the BJP which will decide whom to isolate and ostracize,� said the NEDA convenor. Referring to the violence witnessed during the anti-CAA protests last month, Sarma called upon the agitators to learn from the Assam Agitation.
He said that using vulgar and insulting language against parents of BJP leaders, burning down private residences of MLAs, forcing brides and grooms to get down from vehicles and shout �Jai Aai Asom�, and making public declarations of being an atheist cannot be part of Assamese culture.
�Assam Agitation was not conducted by demanding chanda (donations). No businessman of Fancy Bazar had to shut down his shop during the Assam Agitation,� said Sarma.
The minister said that people may have divergent views on the CAA and the BJP has no issues with the democratic agitation being carried out by the AASU.
�But if anybody is dreaming of forming a new political party or becoming the Chief Minister, then we are also ready to give a political reply. BJP accepts the challenge,� Sarma said.
He accused former Chief Minister Mahanta of first accepting 1971 instead of 1951 as the cut-off date for detection and deportation of foreigners and then of being complicit in �diluting the Assam Accord� by not objecting to the amendment brought by the Centre to the Citizenship Act in 1987 which facilitated children of illegal immigrants to become Indian citizens.
�Now those who betrayed the people of Assam are accusing us of being betrayers... I want to tell Mahanta that in the coming elections he will lose from Barhampur constituency. The people of Barhampur will give a fitting reply to your (Mahanta�s) betrayal,� Sarma said.
He said that no voices were raised when the Citizenship Act was amended in 1987 and 1992.
Accusing the Congress of double-speak on the CAA issue, Sarma said that the Opposition party�s leaders stated in Parliament that they are ready to support it if Muslims are also made eligible for citizenship.
�The Congress� only problem is that Muslims are not eligible for citizenship under the CAA. Congress wants all those Muslims who entered before 2014 to be made eligible. Tarun Gogoi said that both Hindus and Muslims should be given citizenship,� said Sarma.
He claimed that a maximum of 3.5 to four lakh people in Assam will apply for citizenship under the CAA.
�If the number of applicants turns out to be more than five lakh then we will quit politics,� Sarma said.
He added that 2014 was made the cut-off date because since the NDA government took charge there has been no infiltration from Bangladesh.
�Never had I imagined that a day would come when those who voted for (Badruddin) Ajmal will come to Guwahati and carry out vandalism at the Kalakshetra... Never had I imagined that a day would come when those who wrote Miyan poetry would lead the anti-CAA agitation in Tezpur Central University,� Sarma said.
