Guwahati, April 2: Senior advocate and Congress leader HRA Choudhury on Tuesday strongly condemned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement that the BJP was founded to “eliminate” individuals like Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar and Mahbabul Hoque. Choudhury called the remark illegal, alleging that it amounted to a “direct threat” against a specific community and could incite communal violence.
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, Choudhury accused Sarma of attempting to create Hindu-Muslim discord through inflammatory statements. “The Chief Minister has been making such divisive remarks for days now. His words are aimed at instigating communal clashes in Assam,” he said.
Choudhury further criticized Sarma for targeting individuals based on allegations of corruption in the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank. “If a person is accused of wrongdoing, it is up to the courts to decide, not the Chief Minister. Filing a case against someone does not make them a criminal. Justice is delivered by the judiciary, not through political statements,” he said.
Reacting to Sarma’s choice of words, Choudhury pointed out that the phrase “khotom koraa” (meaning “to kill” or “attempt to murder”) implied violence. “No one, not even a Chief Minister, has the authority to ‘eliminate’ anyone within the ambit of the law. Only the judiciary can deliver justice. The Chief Minister’s statement exposes his dangerous intentions,” he added.
The Congress leader also demanded that Sarma clarify his remarks. “When we say the BJP is a communal party, they deny it. But this time, the Chief Minister himself has revealed their agenda. Who exactly is he referring to when he talks about eliminating people? He must either clarify his statement or publicly apologize,” Choudhury insisted.
Choudhury warned that Congress would take legal action if Sarma continued making divisive comments. “We will work with conscious citizens of the state to resist such communal politics. I also urge the people of Assam not to fall into his trap. He is trying to create conflict for political gain,” he said.
In addition to condemning Sarma’s remarks, Choudhury accused the BJP government of bias against the Muslim community. He questioned the timing of the Chief Minister’s statement, pointing out that it coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s distribution of aid to Muslim families. “Is this just a facade to appear inclusive?” he asked.
Choudhury also criticized a recent government circular mandating that teachers report to schools on Eid to celebrate Bodofa Day. “For 75 years, no school or college functioned on Eid. But suddenly, a late-night directive was issued on Sunday requiring teachers to attend. This was politically motivated and done with vested interests. We all respect Bodofa, but such celebrations should be inclusive, not used to target a specific community,” he said.
The Congress party has made it clear that it will not hesitate to move the courts if necessary. As political discourse in Assam becomes increasingly polarized, Choudhury urged all communities to maintain peace and not be provoked by divisive politics.
