Cong lodges police complaints against CM for ‘derogatory’ remarks against women

Guwahati: Congress on Thursday filed police complaints against chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma across the state, alleging that he made offensive comments about women during a panchayat election rally on Monday.
The Guwahati city district committee of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee cited in their complaint that during a public meeting in Bihaguri on Monday, Sarma claimed women of the state chose the ‘wrong path' to secure govt jobs during Congress rule.
District Congress committee president, Gopal C Sarma, emphasised that such statements were insulting and inappropriate. He said unfounded comments from the state's highest official were unacceptable and indicated poor standards in public discourse.
"Such a statement has caused immense hurt to the sentiments of the women community of our state and has shown complete disrespect towards the entire women community in the state, which is punishable under law," he stated in the complaint.
The district Congress committee requested immediate action against the CM for his remarks about women and sought registration of an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They also called for a thorough investigation into these comments.
On Wednesday, Congress protesters in Guwahati burnt the CM's effigy and submitted a letter to the National Commission for Women seeking action against the BJP leader.
At a recent panchayat election rally, Sarma referenced a witness statement from Justice (retd) BK Sharma Commission's report regarding irregularities in the Assam Public Service Commission examinations of 2013 and 2014, during Congress rule. He quoted the witness statement suggesting women had to use inappropriate methods to secure employment during the Congress period.
APCC women's cell president, Mira Borthakur Goswami, criticised these statements saying, "It is a direct insult to all women of the state. Such a statement is not acceptable." She added that Sarma served 15 years in the Congress govt and questioned his silence during that period.
Manoj Baruah, chief spokesperson of BJP Assam Pradesh, said the CM has already denied the allegation of Congress and he quoted from Justice Biplab Kumar Sharma's report in the APSC cash-for-job scam. "Congress has no issues for the panchyat polls. They have been trying to malign CM's image making it a personal issue," he added.