Congress slams Himanta over ‘communal’ & ‘divisive’ remarks

GUWAHATI: Days after minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a certain “civilisation” carries a threat to the Assamese community, Congress criticised Himanta for making “communal” and “divisive” remarks.
Raising concern over illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, Himanta had stated during his speech on Sunday that a specific “civilization” would now flourish and another civilisation would be wiped out in Assam. He had also said that the civilisation he was referring to will not recognise the great social reformer and saint Srimanta Sankardeva, but will go ahead to grab the land from his birthplace.
Referring to alleged encroachment of the Vaishnavite Satra lands by illegal migrants in various parts of Assam, Himanta had said, “One civilization will say it doesn’t understand the Bhagwat. They will use fake names of Hindu boys on Facebook and victimize girls with Love Jihad.”
Coming down heavily on the minister for his remarks, leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia on Tuesday said Himanta should read the history of Assam more thoroughly and refrain from distorting historical facts.
“The Ahom dynasty had united various tribes and ethnic communities to build a greater Assam where everyone lived with honour and individuals secured jobs and rewards on the basis of merit, irrespective of caste or creed. As a result, at different times during the reign of the Ahom dynasty, the likes of Ismail Siddique alias Bagh Hazarika fought shoulder to shoulder with Lachit Borphukon and others when armies of Turbak or the Mughal army attacked Assam. The Battle of Saraighat was not a battle based on religion but a battle between invaders and the people of Assam,” said Saikia.
He said that the Ahom Swargadeos (kings) displayed equal magnanimity in donating land to Azan Pir for propagating Sufi philosophy and donating land for namghars, satras, temples, etc., with the goal of creating a secular Assamese society.
Referring to allusions to ‘Love Jihad’ and wiping out of a specific civilization, the Opposition leader said it is reprehensible that a message loaded with “incitement” and “divisiveness” was issued from Sivasagar, which was the base of Chaolung Sukapha, who came as a migrant but stayed on to lay the foundation of a composite greater Assam.
He described it as an insult to the secular traditions of Sukapha and the Tai-Ahom community, alleging that an attempt to create communal conflict was made at an event where BJP leaders and workers had donned the Ahom headgear and carried Ahom swords.
“It was an attempt to divert attention from public grievances regarding important issues such as unemployment, poverty, settlement of the illegal influx problem, revival of the Nagaon and Cachar paper mills, boosting of the agriculture sector, etc.” he added.