AIUDF wants AGP to create anti-BJP coalition in Assam

GUWAHATI: After Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) severed ties with the BJP, Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) appealed the regional party to form an anti-BJP coalition in the state.

“AGP has taken a significant and important step by coming out of the alliance in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 despite being in alliance with BJP. It is high-time all anti-BJP forces should unite and come under single platform,” Ajmal, who represents minority-dominated Dhubri constituency in the Lok Sabha, said on Wednesday.

Ajmal said six months ago AIUDF told AGP to come out of the alliance as the Bill not only contradicts the Assam Accord, but also undermines state’s identity by granting citizenship on the basis of religion.

“Though AGP should have come out of the alliance much earlier, we welcome the regional party’s move at a crucial juncture the state is passing through. BJP went against the spirit of Assam Accord and sentiment of the people of the state by pushing the Bill,” the AIUDF chief said.

Ajmal said that now AGP should take the lead in bringing all the secular forces under one platform to give shape to an anti-BJP plank.

AIUDF general secretary Haidor Hussain Bora said that prior to the assembly polls his party approached the AGP to form a broad anti-BJP coalition.

“It did not fructify then as AGP later allied with BJP. Now that AGP is out of the alliance, our idea of anti-BJP platform should be given serious thought by the AGP,” Bora said.