Guwahati/Nagaon, Aug. 13: BJP legislators in Assam today staged a walkout from the Assembly after they were denied permission to raise the issue of a mob attack, led by a local Congress leader, on a police team that had gone to arrest illegal Bangladeshi migrants in central Assam's Morigaon district.
BJP legislator Prashanta Phukan stood up to raise the issue as a "point of order" and demanded a statement from the state government which was strongly opposed by ruling Congress members, leading to noisy scenes.
The BJP MLAs had tried to raise the issue in the House yesterday too, but Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi denied permission and asked them to bring it under a proper device.
Parliamentary affairs minister Rakibul Hussain said the government was ready to give a statement, but it has to be brought under a proper device.
The BJP MLAs walked out of the House and described the Speaker's denial as undemocratic.
Later, chief minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters outside the Assembly that irrespective of which party the accused belongs to, law will take its own course and police will take appropriate action against him. Gogoi said the law is equal for everyone.
Six days before Tiwa council elections, this issue has become a headache for the Morigaon unit of the Congress.
Habibur Rahman Siddique, known as a close aide of food and civil supplies minister Nazrul Islam, allegedly assaulted a three-member police team while the latter attempted to nab three members of a family who were declared as illegal migrant by a foreigners tribunal about a week ago.
Hundreds of people from different parts of the central Assam district brought out a procession through the heart of Morigaon district headquarters demanding the arrest of the Congress leader.
Assam PCC president Anjan Dutta today announced at an election rally in Manipur council constituency that Siddique was expelled from the party for six years for indulging in anti-party activities on August 11.
"We hope he will be arrested and punishment will be awarded to him according to law," Dutta said.
On August 10, a three-member team of Morigaon border police led by inspector Prasad Ali went to the Milanpur area under Morigaon police station to nab one Rustam Ali and his family who had been declared as foreigners by the tribunal recently. Siddique and his associates allegedly assaulted the police team and freed the "foreigner" family from police custody.
The situation took a turn for the worse when minister Nazrul Islam announced that Rustam's family is Indian and the court order was biased.
The superintendent of police, Morigaon, S. Hoque, today said four persons, including two brothers of Siddique, were arrested in the past 24 hours in this connection.
"Siddique and Rustam's family members are absconding. Our search is on to nab all of them," Hoque said.
Morigaon Congress leaders believe this incident could become a big factor for the party in the council polls. Tiwa Autonomous Council elections will be held on August 19.
"We hope the BJP would emerge as the single largest party in Tiwa Autonomous Council as voters of the two central Assam districts want an end to Congress misrule for the greater interest of development of the area," said Union sports minister and BJP leader Sarbananda Sonowal.
