EC bars Himanta Biswa Sarma from holding rallies for next 48 hours over his statement on BPF chief
The Congress complained on March 30 that the BJP leader “openly threatened” to send Bodoland Peoples’ Front chief Hagrama Mohilary to jail by “misusing” the National Investigation Agency.
Senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been barred from campaigning or speaking in public including on social media for the next 48 hours, the Election Commission said on Friday evening in its decision on a complaint that the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader had threatened the chief of a rival political party in a media statement.
Sarma had denied the charge. But the commission wasn’t convinced.
"...the Commission hereby strongly condemns the impugned statements made by Sh. Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP leader and star campaigner. The Commission... bars him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows, interviews and public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc in connection with ongoing elections for 48 hours," the commission said in its order on a complaint by the Congress.
The Congress complained on March 30 that the BJP leader “openly threatened” to send Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary to jail by “misusing” the National Investigation Agency. Mohilary’s BPF is part of the Congress-led alliance which also includes the All India United Democratic Front.
The Commission issued a notice to Sarma on April 1 asking him to explain his position” by 5pm on April 2. Sarma denied the allegations in his response but the commission said it was “not satisfactory”.
The commission’s order quoted from a transcript of the speech provided by the state chief electoral officer.
“If Hagrama does extremism with Batha he will go to jail. This is a straight talk. If Hagrama encourages Batha, he will go to jail. Already got a lot of evidence. This case is being given to NIA. The recovery of arms at Kokrajhar in a car, that case is being given to NIA. Nobody will be allowed to do unrest in BTR, even if he is Hagrama or any one. This will not be tolerated...”. said Sarma according to EC's order
The Assam Assembly elections are being held in three phases starting from March 27, the final phase is scheduled for April 6. Counting of votes will take place on May 2.