The Assam PCC on Saturday asked the state police to register a suo motu case against ruling BJP leaders Mrinal Saikia, Jayanta Malla Baruah and Himanta Biswa Sarma for their alleged “instigating comments” on the anti-CAA protests.
“BJP leaders are continuously making provocative speeches but no action has been taken against them. Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia had urged (his followers) to hit and burn the houses of people, BJP state spokesperson Baruah justified the killing of five innocent people who were protesting peacefully and Sarma said there was no such protest in Assam against CAA. Are not all these statements instigating?” PCC general secretary and senior spokesperson Durga Das Boro asked.
Following the CAA protests in the state, at least 246 social media posts were found to be in conflict with law till the end of December.
Besides, Assam Police have registered at least 268 cases in connection with anti- CAA protests and violence in which 448 persons were arrested, including Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi, who was later handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Bir Lachit Sena leader Sringkhol Chaliha was also arrested allegedly for a provocative speech during the CAA protests in the state.
Boro said: “Questions will be asked to Assam police on why no action has been taken against the BJP leaders? I urge the director- general of police to register a suo moto case against them.”
“If they hit one of our workers, you hit 10 of them. If they burn your houses, you burn their houses,” Saikia had said. Baruah in a press meet had said to maintain law and order police have to act to stop the possible violence.
Sarma had said before the passing of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament: “There is no huge protest against the bill in Assam this time.”
“Over 1,00 Congress workers, who were protesting democratically and peacefully, including Monoranjan Borgohain, were arrested during the anti-CAA protests. Borgohain has been arrested for a social media post which was allegedly inflammatory. But we all know he has been arrested for his ongoing crusade against the coal and other syndicates and huge anti-CAA rallies in Margherita,” Boro said.
“The Assam PCC will not support any act that violates the historic Assam Accord and the religion has nothing to do with this.”