GUWAHATI, Jan 11 - Slamming State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his comment that AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal would become Chief Minister in future, the Congress on Saturday said the minister made the statement only to mislead the anti-CAA protesters.
�The minister was seen in various public rallies stating that Ajmal would become Chief Minister, only to seek supporters for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The minister is apparently trying to seek support of the public by intimidating them that if they oppose the Act, then Ajmal would become CM,� Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesperson Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee said at a press conference.
Reiterating the party�s stand against the Act, Bhattacharjee said that the Congress will not accept it and continue its democratic protest against the Act.
�The Centre in a gazette notification announced that the CAA has come into force from January 10. The Congress condemns the move of the government amidst protests across the country. The Congress has been vocal against the Act and is standing for the greater interest of the people,� Bhattacharjee said.
�The BJP-led government is continuously attacking us and accusing us of misleading the people of Assam. Many members of our party are being sent behind bars only because they were vocal against the Act which the government wants to forcefully impose on the people.
�One of our party members, Dhrubajyoti Gogoi from Duliajan, was abducted from his house by miscreants and he hasn�t been located till now. I want to ask the government, is this attack only for opposing CAA? Why are BJP leaders not being booked for provocative statements? If such kind of acts do not stop immediately, the government will have to face protests,� he added.
The Congress also condemned the government�s decision to impose 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on artistes performing in Bihu functions and cultural shows. �The artistes are being targeted by the government with GST because of their protests against the legislation,� Bhattacharjee said.
However, in a statement, the BJP said local artistes would not be affected by the decision. Artistes whose annual income is more than Rs 20 lakh would be brought under the GST regime.