Himanta Biswa Sarma strikes back against ‘Bajra Ninad’, condemns CAB protestors

Guwahati, January 24, 2014:

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly condemned the ‘Bajra Ninad’ (thunderous voice) protest that was held yesterday at Guwahati’s Latasil playground. While speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony in Nagaon, he slammed the Anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 protestors and had some stern words for one of the prime organizers, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). “Today, AASU has organized ‘Bajra Ninad’, we are organizing ‘Vikas Ninad’ at Nagaon as development is our primary agenda.

Biswa Sarma further asserted his support for the contentious Bill and slammed its protestors. "To the people who are trying to scare us regarding the Bill, there is not a single word in the Bill and you have not read the Bill which is why you are saying that we don’t want Bangladeshis. Nowhere is it written that new people will come into the state and I strongly condemn these conspiracies that are meant to lead our jati astray”, thundered the Finance Minister.

He also poked fun at the protestors. “It seems like they have taken sloganeering training, singing “Aah oi aah” (come hey come). If you have such melodious voices, why not take musical lessons to facilitate progress. We need singing training, we need Zubeen Garg and Bhupen Hazarika, will people turn up at night to watch an exhibition of sloganeering?” he questioned.

The Finance Minister also lambasted the black flag protestors who have been hounding him and other BJP leader in the state. “Nowadays, we are seeing some men wearing (black) bandanas on their foreheads and these guys run after you and show these black flags and handkerchiefs. They should learn marathon, athletics. We need people like Hima Das, not black flag protestors like these.”

He also took a dig at journalists covering the black flag protests. “Jounalists run after these protestors, three boys run in front and fifteen journalists follow, while it should be the other way around.”

Biswa Sarma also blasted Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi, who has spearheaded many protests against the contentious Bill. “Everything is topsy-turvy here. Instead of tilling the land, farmers stage protests here. We have a constantly protesting farmer leader here who announced an economic blockage. But we don’t understand some things. We have destroyed the forests here and we only far thrice a year and all necessary commodities are brought from other states”, he said.