Mayawati joins Assam CM to demand Acharya dismissal
Lucknow/Guwahati: The chorus of condemnation of Assam Governor PB Acharya’s controversial remarks grew louder on Monday with the BSP and Nagland’s Congress unit joining Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in demanding his immediate dismissal.
Hitting out at the Governor, controversial Samajwadi party leader Azam Khan said Muslims would prefer ‘Kabirstan’ to Pakistan and suggested he go to Nepal, if he had any problem with them.
Acharya stoked a controversy on Saturday with his reported “Hindustan is for Hindus” remark and his attempt to clarify yesterday with a comment that Indian Muslims are “free to go Pakistan” further escalated the row. Acharya is Governor of Nagaland and holding additional charge of Assam.
Reiterating his demand for removal of Acharya, Gogoi said the incumbent “does not know how to maintain his dignity” as a Constitutional head.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju sought to defend Acharya over his remarks, claiming he did not make any comments with religious overtones.
Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy also came to the defence of Acharya. “Much ado about nothing! A perfectly innocuous remark, historically correct and quite justified, taken out of context,” he said.
BSP chief Mayawati demanded that action be taken against Acharya as per the law. “He should be immediately dismissed and action initiated against him as per the rules.” “It is most unbecoming for a person sitting on such a high post to issue a statement which is against the spirit of the Constitution …it is unfortunate that Central Government has given such high post to people associated with the RSS having such distorted mentality,” she said in a statement released in Lucknow.
Exhorting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action in this case, she said it was also necessary to prove that there is no difference in what he preaches and follows.
Terming usage of inciting, undignified and hatred spreading statements as a new dangerous ailment faced by the country alongwith intolerance, Mayawati said ever since NDA government came to power at the Centre people associated with BJP and company have become intolerant which has damaged social and communal atmosphere of the country.
Gogoi said “The statement made by the Governor exposed his communal mindset that is biased towards Hindutva. By making such a statement, he (Governor) also exposed the policy of Modi government to appoint such persons with communal mindset as constitutional head of states.”
“Such comments from a Governor will disintegrate the country as divisive forces will be encouraged by such statements. It is clear that Acharya doesn’t know how to maintain dignity of a Governor’s House. I am surprised that the Centre has taken more than one year to appoint a permanent Governor in an important state like Assam,” the Assam Chief Minister said.
“Appointment of such persons as Governor and such statements will disintegrate the country and affect the unity. He is playing divisive politics,” he added.
“He (Acharya) is just an acting Governor. No permanent Governor has been appointed so far for a long time. He is just behaving like an RSS Pracharak. He should not be appointed in an important state like Assam. “He should be removed immediately…You (Centre) appoint anyone who can hold the dignity of the post,” Gogoi said.
Assembly polls in Assam are due next year.
A statement issued by Nagaland PCC president K Therie in Kohima also demanded removala of Acharya. (Our Guwahati correspondent and PTI)