Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that he woul not let Bengali-speaking Muslims take over the state, underscoring that he is “not in the competition for minority votes”. Alleging that it was a communal statement, the Congress walked out of the state assembly, where Mr Sarma was speaking.

Speaking at Assam’s Legislative assembly on the Opposition’s adjournment motion on several key issues — including rape of minors and the targetting of Bengali Muslims in upper Assam’s Sivasagar district — Mr Sarma said, “I will take sides. What can you do? Will not let Miya Muslims take over Assam”.

“Let them (the Opposition) compete for minority votes. I am not in the competition,” the Chief Minister added.

The term ‘Miya’ refers to Muslims of Bengali origin, who are often accused of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Mr Sarma said Opposition leaders Rafikul Sahab and Debabrata Saikia have made an important statement. The two leaders had underscored that people will move from Lower Assam to upper Assam.

Questioning why that would happen, Mr Sarma said, “You Miya Muslims will take the entire lower Assam? We will not let you all to take the lower Assam, no never,” he added.

Mr Sarma’s remarks come two days after Opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi claimed that the BJP is trying to recreate the 2002 Gujarat episodes in Assam. His comments followed reports that some organisations have allegedly been threatening Muslims from Upper Assam, demanding that they leave the administrative division.

The Opposition All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has written to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, seeking action against unknown organisations and fundamentalist groups issuing threats to the Muslim community in Upper Assam.

Talking to reporters later, Opposition leader Debabrata Saikia said, “There are so many instances of failure of law and order — rape, dacoity, murder etc. We have given statistics about it. There have been more than 20 cases of murder and arson in just seven days in June,” he said.

Since the BJP rule started, there have been at least six cases of rape per day — which is more than the last 15 years Congress rule in Assam, he added.

“The Chief Minister is trying to say that a particular community was involved. There was assault on Indian citizens belonging to the minority community,” Mr Saikia said. “But statistics don’t say such thing. So we have asked for a discussion regarding the matter. But the Chief Minister is saying very communal thing. We have protested and walk out from the assembly,” Mr Saikia said.

Champai Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and veteran JMM leader, is set to join the BJP on Friday, announced Himanta Biswa Sarma in a late night post on X, hailing him as a “distinguished adivasi leader of the country”.

Last week, the 67-year-old leader, who had to quit as Chief Minister to make way for Hemant Soren upon his release from jail, accused party leadership of insulting him and announced that he would soon decide on his next political course.

Days after resigning, Mr Soren said he would have done more to develop the state had he had some more time.

The veteran leader – also known among party workers as the “Jharkhand Tiger” for his significant contribution to the struggle for creating Jharkhand state in the 1990s – said he would not quit politics, asserting that an option to float a new political outfit was always open to him.

Amid huge buzz about his big switcheroo, Mr Soren, two weeks ago, asserted “hum jahan par hain vahi par hain (I am where I am)”.  The same week, he arrived in Delhi, claiming he had come for personal work. 

However, the rumours refused to die down. The BJP too played coy, calling him a “senior leader” and “someone who was serving Jharkhand as a good Chief Minister”.

Earlier today, Mr Sarma, who is BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand that will go to the polls later this year, said “I want Champai Soren to join the BJP and strengthen us”.

The deal was finalised a few hours later. Mr Sarma posted a picture of Champai Soren meeting Amit Shah and announced the new inductee’s date of joining. 

“Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, @ChampaiSoren Ji met Hon’ble Union Home Minister  @AmitShah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the @BJP4India on 30th August in Ranchi,” posted Mr Sarma.

Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, @ChampaiSoren Ji met Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the @BJP4India on 30th August in Ranchi. pic.twitter.com/OOAhpgrvmu

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 26, 2024

Champai Soren had taken oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand on February 2 this year. He then resigned from the post of Chief Minister on July 3, a day before JMM executive president Hemant Soren took oath as the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand on July 4.

The removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the the tea town of Doomdooma in Assam had lead to a massive controversy with student leaders protesting the sudden removal. Two days ago, the 5.5 foot statue of Mahatma Gandhi, placed at the town’s Gandhi Chowk in Tinsukia district, was removed by an excavator, triggered widespread backlash. 

However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he was not aware of the decision to remove the statue. “I am not aware of this decision taken by the district administration. Let me verify the facts. Assam owes so much to Mahatma Gandhi. He stood firmly with Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi when the Congress party led by Nehru wanted to include Assam in Pakistan under the Grouping Plan,” he said.

The prominent All Assam Student Union (AASU) launched protests alleging that Gandhi’s statue was removed to build a clock tower. “When we met the municipal board and the town committee, they told us they have a plan to build clock tower but our question is why the civil society here was not taken into confidence before taking the decision to uproot the Gandhi statue?” said Pritam Neog, an AASU leader. 

Earlier, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, had attacked the BJP government in Assam over the statue’s removal. “Not surprising that the BJP Government in Assam decided to replace Bapu’s statue with a clock tower in Dibrugarh,” he said.

“We don’t oppose any city beautification project but it cannot be at the cost of Gandhi’s statue. We won’t allow it. They have to keep the statue and build a clock tower,” Congress leader and former MLA Durga Bhumij said.

Responding to concerns, BJP MLA from Doomdooma Rupesh Gowala said that a new statue was being created and would be placed at the original site within six months. The new state would be a foot taller and would be placed next to a clock tower. 

“Is it good for Doomdooma town to have a old broken statue of Gandhi ji? We removed it to replace with a taller and better statue and also to beautify the area around it but some people are trying to create a controversy and do politics over it,” he said.
 

Guwahati, Assam:

In a bid to end the ‘VIP culture’, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that ministers and government officials will have to pay for their electricity consumption.

“We are ending the VIP Culture rule of paying electricity bills of Government officials using tax payer money. Myself and the Chief Secretary will set an example and start paying our power bills from July 1 onwards. Beginning July 2024, all public servants will have to pay for their own electricity consumption,” Assam Chief Minister wrote in a post on X.

We are ending the #VIPCulture rule of paying electricity bills of Government officials using tax payer money.

Myself and the Chief Secretary will set an example and start paying our power bills from July 1 onwards.

Beginning July 2024, all public servants will have to pay… pic.twitter.com/kJMoYETQLJ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 16, 2024

Additionally, the chief minister emphasized the state’s commitment to energy conservation, explaining that they have launched a program to automatically disconnect electricity at all government offices, except for the Chief Minister Secretariat, Home, and Finance Departments, at 8 PM.

This initiative aims to reduce electricity consumption, and it has already been implemented in 8,000 government offices, schools, and other institutions throughout the state.

“Our aim is to gradually move all Govt establishments to solar power and we are exploring beginning this work from our Medical Colleges and Universities across the State,” Assam Chief Minister added.

The Assam Chief Minister launched the Janata Bhawan Solar Project during a ceremony at the state Secretariat Complex on Sunday. This initiative aims to further the state’s efforts in promoting renewable energy, featuring a 2.5-MW capacity grid-connected solar PV system installed on rooftops and ground surfaces.

This project would yield an average of 3 lakh units of electricity monthly and the investment amount of Rs 12.56 crore is projected to be recovered within 4 years, with monthly savings standing at about Rs. 30 lakh.

The launch of the solar power project today has led to the Assam Secretariat Complex becoming the first-ever civil secretariat in the country that relies entirely on solar-generated electricity for daily consumption.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Is this the code red moment in the national polls? Himanta Sarma appears to suggest so. The assertion, however, appears misleading.

The Assam Chief Minister, a former Congress leader, has alleged that Rahul Gandhi, his former party boss, has been displaying the Chinese constitution at his poll rallies. Mr Sarma arrived at the conclusion based on the colour of the book – a deep red.

“The original copy of the Constitution of India has a blue cover. The original Chinese constitution has a red cover. Does Rahul carry a Chinese Constitution? We will need to verify,” Mr Sarma, 55, posted on X on Friday along with a picture of the Constitution, in what he calls the original blue cover, and a Rahul Gandhi picture with the red one.

Reacting to the Chief Minister’s post, several social media users said that the red-bound Constitution is a coat pocket edition, which has been presented to top Indian leaders, including the President, Prime Minister and the Union Home minister.

On Saturday, despite being called out on social media for the misleading post, the Chief Minister doubled down on his assertion.

“Rahul is displaying a red Chinese constitution to the people attending his meetings. Our constitution, in blue, includes a chapter called the Directive Principles of State Policy, which makes it a sacred duty to enact a Uniform Civil Code in our country; Rahul is now opposing this.
That’s why I am sure that the constitution in his hand must be a Chinese one,” he tweeted today.

An MLA belonging to the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) party pointed to the “red gamcha” worn by the Chief Minister.

“There is no fixed colour of Indian constitution. The Chief Minister also wears a red gamcha, is it also from China. This is not a right post,” Hafiz Rafiqul Islam, MLA, AIUDF, told NDTV.

“Constitution has many colours but contents inside are same…We don’t read the colour but what is inside. Colour do not endorse any purpose,” said Congress MLA Abdul Rashid Mondal.

The latest controversy comes amid a raging debate around the constitution.

The Congress has been alleging that the BJP, which has set a mammoth “400 paar” target, plans to redo the constitution. The BJP however has maintained that no government can change the constitution.

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused the Gandhi family of “working to break the country” and urged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to “give away Gandhi title”.

He said the Gandhi family is “Sardar of duplicate” and alleged that they had committed “too many scams”.

“Their first scam started with the title of Gandhi. They did only Parivarvad and worked on breaking the country. I request Rahul Gandhi to give away the Gandhi title,” the Assam Chief Minister said while addressing the BJP Mahila Morcha’s national executive meeting in Guwahati.

Chief Minister Sarma praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ‘Delhi Declaration’ adopted during the G20 leaders’ summit in Delhi and said it happened only because of him.

“Kamakhya corridor will come into reality in the next two years. Only because of PM Modi, the Delhi declaration happened amid Ukraine, Russia war. Congress didn’t celebrate 25 years, or 50 years of Independence of the country. But, Modi ji celebrated 75 years of Independence and everyone feels that we are Bharatiya. The great reformer Mahapurusha Sankaradeva wrote about Bharat Bhumi 500 years ago, this is our Bharat Bhumi,” Mr Sarma said.

He said Prime Minister Modi is working to make Bharat a Vishwaguru.

“Yesterday when I saw Modi ji talking to global leaders, I felt that Bharat has now become Vishwaguru. Women are now leading the country. Prime Minister Modi gives more focus on Nari Shakti, women empowerment. A few days ago we launched an operation against child marriage. Getting married at nine years and giving birth at 12 years is common in a particular community in Assam. No Hindu endorses casteism, but one Tamil Nadu minister spoke against Hindus,” the Assam Chief Minister said.

He also said the state government will launch another massive operation against child marriage within the next 10 days.

“Mahila Morcha should launch a campaign against child marriage and polygamy across the country. We will bring act against polygamy in December. The nation now again needs Modi ji. We will have to make Modi ji PM for 10 years. Modi government will be formed in Bharat,” Chief Minister Sarma said.

He also highlighted that the Northeast has changed in terms of development transformation.

“We are trying to make the 40 lakh as Individual entrepreneur. Rs 10,000 will be provided to their bank account, next year and Rs 15,000 from government and Rs 15,000 from bank in next and it will be gone up to Rs 1 lakh. First year we will give 100 per cent subsidy to 40 lakh women,” he said.

“Today’s North East has changed in terms of development transformation. 14 years ago North East has completely changed. Out of 25, BJP will win 22 seats in North East,” he added.

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that he was amazed that Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak is attracted to “Indian Sanatan culture” and heritage even though he stays in Britain.

Himanta met Mr Sunak and other G20 heads of state at the grand dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday. 

“I got the opportunity to speak with Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak and his wife (Akshata Murthy). We had a general discussion. In spite of being in Britain, he is attracted to Indian Sanatan culture and heritage. He was speaking in his mother tongue Hindi with me and with some other Chief Ministers. This is a proud moment for us,” the Assam Chief Minister said speaking to reporters in Guwahati on Sunday.

The reference to ‘Sanatan’ was a mild slam at the opposition over the ‘Sanatan Dharma’. Recently, Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said in a speech that Sanatan Dharma shouldn’t be opposed but “eradicated”. This stirred a huge political storm in the country with the Bharatiya Janata Party questioning the INDIA bloc leaders over its stand on the issue.

The Assam Chief Minister also spoke to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the dinner for G20 delegates on Saturday.

“I personally got to speak with Singapore Prime Minister. He has an interest in Assam, especially nursing education and skill education,” Himanta said.

Speaking about the G20 Summit, Himanta Sarma said, “This is a historic Summit. Various heads of states participated. For the first time African Union was included in the G20.  This was due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

The Assam Chief Minister pointed out that given the Russia-Ukraine war, it is usually difficult to get Russia, China and the US on one table. However, he said, that in the G20 Summit at Delhi, all the nations came together and signed the Declaration.

“It is difficult to get America, Russia and China talking on any issue. However, during G20, Russia, China, America, France, and Italy signed the historic Declaration,” Himanta said.

The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by the G20 nations on Saturday.

The Global Biofuel Alliance also came into being during the Summit owing to the leadership of India, Himanta added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the conclusion of the two-day-long G20 Summit on Sunday which saw participation by heads of state of the grouping and heads of international organisations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that if the Congress does not distance itself from DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial remarks on Sanatana Dharma, it will ‘confirm’ public’s perception that the party is ‘anti-Hindu’.

He also questioned the grand old party’s stance on its leader Karti Chidambaram defending the DMK leader’s statements.

“I do not want to condemn the statement by the Tamil Nadu minister because he has exposed himself,” Mr Sarma said, claiming that remarks on similar lines were also made by Karti Chidambaram and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

DMK youth wing secretary and Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had alleged on Saturday that Sanatana Dharma is against equality and social justice, and had likened it to coronavirus, malaria, fever caused by dengue virus and mosquitoes.

His remarks led to a furore on social media with BJP’s IT department in-charge Amit Malviya stating the DMK leader has called for “genocide” of 80 per cent population who follow Sanatan Dharma.

Udhayanidhi Stalin rubbished the genocidal claim and said his speech was a pointer to social evils.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram defended Mr Stalin’s remarks saying that the BJP likening it to a “genocidal call” is like giving it a “mischievous spin”.

Mr Sarma maintained that the question is now whether the Congress will remain in alliance with the DMK and take action against Mr Chidambaram.

“This is a test for Rahul Gandhi. He has to take a decision whether he respects Sanatan Dharma or not,” the BJP leader said.

“If Gandhi does not snap ties with DMK or expel Chidambaram, then it will be confirmed that these people (Congress) are anti-Hindu, they do not like Sanatan Dharma, they do not like the Hindu religion,” Mr Sarma added.

Refraining from making any statement on Hinduism as a religion, he said, “I don’t want to join that debate. It was here from 5,000 years ago and will be there till the sun and moon are there.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)