Guwahati, Oct19: Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah on Saturday urged the police to maintain impartiality in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.
Speaking at a protest rally in Rupahihat in central Assam’s Nagaon district, Borah expressed frustration over the circumstances that led the Congress party to relocate their protest from the Rupahihat police station to the main street. He attributed this change to the heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces surrounding the police station.
The protest rally was organized by the Congress party to express their dissatisfaction with the police’s inaction regarding the October 15 attack on Congress leaders at Bortol, Rupahihat. Despite an FIR being lodged following the attack, which involved BJP activists damaging vehicles in a Congress convoy, no arrests had been made. Borah’s address reflected the party’s demand for immediate action and accountability from the police.
Borah expressed his dissatisfaction over the relocation of the rally, originally planned at the Rupahihat police station, due to the heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces and urged the police to remain impartial in their duties, highlighting the importance of fairness in handling sensitive political situations.
In a pointed criticism of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Borah suggested that Sarma lacks respect for law enforcement, sarcastically referring to how the Chief Minister could “cry out from stage ‘oh police’ oh police,” implying a disregard for the police’s integrity and authority.
The Congress leader also emphasized that the Congress party stands as a strong voice for the people of Assam. He framed the upcoming by-elections not merely as a contest for the Congress but as a broader fight on behalf of the people of Assam, calling for the ousting of the BJP due to what he described as their “misrule.” His remarks reflect the party’s determination to challenge the state’s current administration and assert the need for change.
The Congress leader made it clear that the Congress party remains undeterred by BJP attacks. He boldly stated, “Let BJP goons’ stones fall on me first, let them damage my vehicle first,” emphasizing the party’s resilience and fearlessness in the face of political aggression.
Borah also delivered a stern message to DGP GP Singh, drawing attention to the seriousness of political violence: “If there is a fire at your neighbour’s house, the fire may spread to your house too.”
He referred to Congress MLA Sibamoni Bora, who was injured in recent violence, and reminded Singh that the lawmakers being targeted are the ones who create the laws followed by the police, warning of potential consequences if impartiality is not maintained.
Borah further predicted that the BJP’s fall would begin in Samaguri, stating that the previous election was not a mandate for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma but for Sarbananda Sonowal, suggesting Sarma’s rise to power was not representative of the people’s will. His comments underscored the Congress’s resolve to challenge the current BJP government in Assam and signal the party’s confidence ahead of the upcoming by-elections.
Borah accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of betrayal, alleging that Sarma had previously turned against both Tarun Gogoi and Sarbananda Sonowal to seize power. Drawing a sharp historical parallel, Borah likened Sarma’s actions to Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor who imprisoned his father, Shah Jahan, implying that Sarma’s leadership is marked by disloyalty and opportunism.
He also issued a clear demand for justice, declaring, “Our protest will continue unless the police assure us that this incident will be probed.” He stressed that the Congress party was not seeking conflict but rather accountability and understanding from the authorities.
The protest saw a significant turnout, with over 2,000 Congress leaders, workers, and supporters gathered to demand action against the perpetrators of the pre-poll violence in the Samaguri constituency.
Prominent Congress figures such as MPs Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain, along with MLAs Sibamoni Borah and Nurul Huda, joined the protest, passionately condemning the violence and urging immediate lawful action. Their presence underscored the party’s unified stance on the issue and its determination to hold the authorities accountable.
