GUWAHATI, Aug 29 - The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has decided to take strong action against those involved in anti-party activities, and showcause notices are likely to be issued to five legislators who had gone to the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport yesterday to meet former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma when he arrived in the city from New Delhi to formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Talking to The Assam Tribune, APCC president Anjan Dutta admitted that dissident activities had affected the Congress for the last couple of years or so. He however, asserted that indiscipline would not be tolerated anymore and anyone found involved in anti-party activities would face strong action as per provisions of the constitution of the party.
Dutta said that of the ten legislators who had gone to meet Sarma at the airport yesterday, Dr Monsing Rongpi made it clear yesterday itself that he just went to meet the former minister before he joined the BJP. Four others informed the Congress in writing that they are not planning to go to the BJP along with Sarma and went to meet him as they had worked together for a long time.
Hence, the Congress has decided not to take any action against these five legislators. However, showcause notices are likely to be issued to the other five soon, asking them to explain their action.
On Sarma�s claim that at least 40 legislators of the Congress had expressed their willingness to join the BJP, Dutta said the claim was not correct. �Yesterday Sarma claimed that he had submitted a list of 40 legislators to the BJP. At one point of time, he had claimed that 51 legislators were supporting him, but even at that time I had signatures of 52 legislators who supported Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He has been making such claims for a long time and there is no reason to take those seriously,� Dutta said.
However, the APCC chief did not rule out the possibility of a few Congressmen joining the BJP and claimed that would not affect the Congress in any way.
It may be mentioned that immediately after joining the BJP yesterday, Sarma claimed that he had submitted a list of 40 legislators who were willing to join the BJP, to the leaders of the party six months back.
