New Delhi: The Electoral Commission on Friday banned Assam Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning with immediate effect for 48 hours for allegedly making threatening remarks against Hagrama Mohilary, head of the Bodoland People’s Front.
“… The Commission hereby strongly condemns the impugned statements of Himanta Biswa Sarma… in connection with continued elections for 48 hours from immediate effect on 02 April (Friday),” reads the order.
Sarma was therefore banned from the campaign and related activities until April 4. The campaign for the third and final phase of Assam elections ends on the evening of April 4. The final phase of the polling station will be held on April 6.
In his reply to the EC notice on Friday, Sarma denied the allegations. But the EC has said Sarma’s response is not satisfactory.
Congress has approached the EC to sue Sarma for his remark that Mohilary would be jailed by the central investigative agency NIA if he did ‘extremism’ with rebel leader M Batha.
The Bodoland People’s Front is an ally of Congress in Assam. It was previously at the BJP. On Thursday, the EC notice to Sarma quoted the transcript of the speech delivered by the state election machinery.
‘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 referred to NIA, ”according to a portion of Sarma’s speech that was part of the notice.
Source: Telangana Today