GUWAHATI, Jan 23 - Major political parties, including the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today lambasted All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal for his controversial comments to unite religious minorities in the State ahead of the ensuing polls.
While the Congress opined that such comments would lead to communal unrest in the State, the saffron party, taking a strong exception at the comments made by Ajmal, demanded his arrest under the National Security Act (NSA).
BJP spokesperson Bijon Kumar Mahajan said that the comments made by Ajmal are purely against the law and he must be brought to book, so that the harmony among the people living in the State, irrespective of their caste and creed, is not disturbed.
�The comments made by the AIUDF leader are against the Constitution of India, which declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. This is also a violation of 153A/295A of the Indian Penal Code,� Mahajan said.
The BJP demanded that the State Government, as a preventive measure and in the interest of communal harmony, must arrest Ajmal under the NSA.
The CPI (M) also flayed the AIUDF chief over his remarks aimed at religious polarisation and said that such comments would end up helping the BJP ahead of the polls.
While addressing a rally yesterday, Ajmal reportedly said that with the arrival of Narendra Modi in the scene, the Hindus have united and this has made it mandatory for the Muslims of the State to unite.
Meanwhile, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has made an appeal to Ajmal to desist from making any statement that may affect the fraternity and unity of the people of the State.
In a statement here, AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita said that with the Assembly elections nearing, some leaders are out to divide the people on communal lines. The statement made by Ajmal is contrary to the age-old ethos of the people of the State.
The AGP warns all forces concerned not to import the communal politics of other States to Assam, Kalita said.
