Guwahati, Sept 21: Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia has filed an FIR against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over an alleged “hate speech” during a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.
“I am constrained to lodge this FIR on account of the banal and hateful statement given by Sri Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam on September 19, 2023 during the Jan Ashirwad rally in Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh,” Saikia, who is also an MLA from Nazira Assembly constituency, stated in the FIR lodged at Nazira Model Police Station in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district.
“In a country governed by the rule of law, Sri Sarma has taken electoral rhetoric to its ugliest form. While taunting Sri Kamal Nath, a prominent member of the Indian National Congress about his Hindu identity, Sri Sarma has directly suggested that 10, Janpath should be burnt.”
Saikia further alleged in the FIR that the Assam chief minister had “given a clear instigation towards violence and arson.”
“Be it stated here that 10, Janpath is the residence of Smt Sonia Gandhi, a Member of Parliament and the former president of the Indian National Congress. Smti Gandhi also happens to be the widow of the former Prime Minister of India. By suggesting that the residence of a 77-year-old lady be burnt down, Sri Sarma is not just attacking a prominent face of the Opposition, but he is giving a clarion call towards arson. Such wanton statements coming from a constitutional authority have the potential of causing misguided persons to resort to violence and potentially cause harm to the residents of 10, Janpath,” the Assam Congress leader stated in the FIR.
“This is a clear instigation towards rioting and abetment of arson on the part of Himanta Biswa Sarma and he is liable to be booked under Sections 153 and Sections 115/436 of the Indian Penal Code,” the MLA stated.
He further stated here that though the statement by the chief minister was made in Madhya Pradesh, it has been widely circulated across the media and accessible in Assam.
“Accordingly, the effects of the instigation and violent rhetoric are felt within your good office’s jurisdiction. I, therefore, implore you to register an FIR and take necessary action in this regard,” Saikia stated in the FIR addressed to the officer-in-charge of Nazira Model Police Station.