Guwahati, Dec. 30: The ruling Congress today raked up criminal cases against Congress-turned-BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma during the protest against Monday's attack on Rajiv Bhawan, the Congress headquarters in Guwahati, allegedly by BJP supporters.
Led by Assam PCC president Anjan Dutta, around 2,000 supporters and members of the ruling Congress gathered at the Dighalipukhuri here to stage a protest demanding Sarma's arrest. "It is Himanta (Biswa Sarma) who had instructed the BJP supporters protesting near Nilamani Sen Deka's house to go to Rajiv Bhawan and attack us. So, we want him to be arrested. He had earlier faced criminal cases."
BJP's protest on Monday was triggered by Deka's controversial comment against Union minister Smriti Irani. The Congress claimed the attackers were BJP members. Twenty Congress members were injured in the attack.
Cabinet minister Rakibul Hussain also dug up Sarma's past saying he should have faced the law instead of going to Bangladesh.
"Sarma is known for his hooliganism. He was accused in cases of extortions and several other crimes. With Sarma in their ranks, the BJP is now saddled with all the ailments such as cancer, fever and cold that we were suffering when he was with us," Hussain said.
PCC general secretary Anil Raja said they did not have to fight the BJP because Sarma was enough to destroy the rival party, given his track record.
Himanta, on the other hand, dared the establishment to arrest him.
"I am back in India," he tweeted this afternoon. "Will be back to Guwahati tomorrow at 11.30 am. Will inform commissioner of police, Guwahati, so that he can discharge his responsibility," he tweeted.
On December 22, while filing a defamation case against chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Sarma had said he has no criminal cases and was not accused in any case.
Police have so far arrested 10 persons, based on two cases (256/15 and 257/15) filed by the Congress. They have been remanded in 14 days' judicial custody and have been granted bail in only one case.
In developments related to Deka, the Jorhat sub-divisional judicial magistrate (Sadar) Nayan Jyoti Sarma today directed Assam police to register a case under Sections 500 and 354 (A) of the IPC on charges of defaming Modi, Irani and the citizens of the country and outraging the modesty of a woman.
The order was passed today based on the complaint lodged on Monday by Udip Barua and Polash Sarmah of Pulibor. Yesterday, chief judicial magistrate Darak Ullah had alloted the case to sub-divisional judicial magistrate (Sadar) court.
Assam BJP president and Union minister of state Sarbananda Sonowal today said, "The BJP is also ready for legal action against Deka." Bhangagarh police visited Rajiv Bhawan this evening in connection with the case and are likely to arrest the seven Congress members named in the FIR.
Additional reporting by Wasim Rahman
