Himanta Biswa Sarma has misled House: Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has alleged that State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma misled the State Assembly when it was in its special session recently on the cut-off date of the Assam Accord.

Addressing a press conference in his official residence here on Thursday, Gogoi said, “Sarma misinterpreted the Assam Accord on its base year and the cut-off date. The year 1966 is the base year for the detection and deletion of foreigners from the voter list for ten years after which their names will appear in the voter list. However, 25, 1971 is the cut-off date for detection, deletion and deportation of foreigners who entered Assam after it. The minister, however, misled the House on these two dates.”

On Himanta Biswa Sarma’s assertion that not more than five lakh Hindu Bangladeshis would get Indian citizenship under the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), Gogoi said, “Where he got this figure and when did these five lakh Hindu Bangladeshis enter Assam? During my 15-year rule as the Chief Minister of the State I received no application from anyone who had to enter the State because of religious persecution. This makes it clear that no persecuted foreigner entered Assam during my period. When the five lakh people came to Assam? The government has to make public how many applications it has received for Indian citizenship in Assam from persecuted Hindu Bangladeshis.”

On the reported move to float a new political party in Assam, Gogoi said, “Nobody can form the government in Assam minus the Congress in 2021. If any organization is trying to float a new party, we’re ready to put up a united fight against the BJP since we’re united on the main issue – the CAA. I’m sure the BJP will bite the dust in 2021.”

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