Congress playing communal game in Assam and Kashmir: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: State Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused the Congress of playing a dangerous communal game with the separatists both in Assam and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference at Hotel Radisson Blue here on Thursday evening Sarma who is also the convener of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a platform of non-Congress and non-Communist parties, alleged that while in Kashmir, the Congress is allying withGupkar gang, the party is supporting the communal agenda of the AIUDF's chiefBadruddinAjmal in Assam. TheGupkar gang, led by Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, wants restoration of Article 370 and Article 35(A) revoked by the BJP, he said.

Sarma alleged that Congress is not only standing with separatist forces in Kashmir, but also disturbing peace in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. He said the Congress has deviated from the ideals of the freedom fighters.

"At Silchar Airport, Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised. Why did the Congress lodgea case against me instead ofBadruddinAjmal? The development implies that the Congress supports the separatists. The Congress is playing communal agenda in Assam and separatist agenda in Kashmir," Sarma said.

On the issue of the next month's BTC elections Sarma said the ruling BJP's arch rival will be the BPF. He said the BJP is contesting 27 seats in the BTC elections. "In all these seats my party will have direct contest with the BPF," he said while evading a direct reply on snapping ties with the BPF.

When asked about violations of the Covid safety protocols during the ongoing campaigning for the BTC elections, Sarma said he being the Health minister had personally opposed holding of the elections in December. "But an all-party meeting attended by all political parties including the Congress had asked the government to go ahead with the BTC elections. In election rallies you cannot control the crowd," he said. Sarma, however, the Covid positivity rate in the State is fast declining. Out of 1200 tests conducted on Thursday only two tested Covid positive, he said.

Sarma said emergence of many regional parties in the State will confuse the people and would not work. "I like to advise the leaders of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) to complete their studies before joining the politics. In democracy the voters are the ultimate change makers," he said.

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