Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday lashed out at the anti Citizenship Amendment Act brigade for allegedly spreading "misinformation" about the legislation and "lying" to the people.
Biswa Sarma, launching a scathing attack on anti CAA agitators during a BJP Sankalpa Samaroh, said, "This time, the kind of protests we saw in Assam opened our eyes." When he was a small kid studying in Class 5, he says, he saw people peacefully participate in the Assam Agitation with Gandhi's pictures in front of their eyes.
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"However, this time, tyres were burned on the roads...the roads that we built in Guwahati saw chaos. In Sankardev Kalashetra also, the jaapi (traditional Assamese ceremonial hat) was vandalized", the Minister lamented. The BJP leader, the staunchest supporter of the CAA in Assam's corridors of power, said that if anyone disregards the sanctity of the nation through violent protests, that person will never be able to represent the Assamese as a progressive jaati (nation) in the national and international arenas.
Today, there is a lot of misinformation being spread against the CAA...our Zubeen Garg...I love him from the bottom of my heart. He sings a song 'Politics Nokoriba Bondhu (Don't do politics, my friend). In a similar vein, I will sing a song "Misa Kotha Koi Politics Nokoriba Bondhu", (Don't do politics by resorting to lies, my friends)", he said, taking potshots at the anti-CAA brigade for allegedly "misinforming" the public of Assam about the 'contents' of the legislation and 'lying' to the public.
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Addressing the massive gathering of BJP supporters, he further alleged that the figure of 2.5 crore Bangladeshi-Hindus coming to Assam is untrue, as only 1 crore Bangladeshis are currently living in the neighboring country. He further accused the people making these allegations of lying, and said that 10 lakh trucks laden with Bangladeshis will be required to bring that many foreigners to Assam.
The BJP Minister also attacked the rival Congress camp for allegedly settling Bangladeshis in Kaziranka, and claimed credit for stopping rhino-poaching in the National Park. "If someone enters Kaziranga to poach rhinos...that people will never return alive", Biswa Sarma thundered.
It may be mentioned here that there are mass apprehensions against the CAA in Assam, as the people fear that the contentious legislation will hurt the culture, language, and identity of Assam.
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