Guwahati: Accusing principal opposition party All India United Democratic Front of making provocative statements during campaigning for the panchayat polls, ruling Congress on Wednesday said such comments can inflame passion and affect peace and amity in Assam.
“AIUDF and its leader Maulana Badruddin Ajmal have in recent times made some statements which are provocative in nature. The statements made by Ajmal at many panchayat polls meeting are condemnable and could affect peace and amity among people,” Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneshwar Kalita told reporters here.
He accused Ajmal of inciting AIUDF supporters to “throw stones” at Congress party meetings and also attack vehicles used by the ruling party during campaign. Kalita also attacked Asom Gana Parishad and BJP and said both the parties have no faith in the panchayati raj system.
“The opposition attacks such on the issue of corruption. However, the fact is that panchayati raj has brought decentralisation of power to the local level.
“There were no panchayat polls in the state when AGP was ruling Assam and NDA was in power in the centre. For them, panchayat polls are mere elections and they have no faith in the system,” Kalita said.
He said while Congress is contesting all the seats across Assam, the opposition parties are limited in their influce to certain areas only. “AIUDF is not contesting in Upper Assam districts, while AGP and BJP have also failed to put up their candidates in many areas. On the contrary, we are contesting all the seats and are sure about a good show,” Kalita said.
Regarding dissidence in the party over allocation of tickets, he said many rebel candidates have been expelled for six years but refrained from giving a number about such candidates.
Asked about statements made against the state party by some senior Congress leaders, Kalita said: “We have warned such people to refrain from making statements before the media. Congress believes in inner-party democracy but there is a limit to everything.”
Regarding criticism faced by the party over use of helicopters for campaigning in the panchayat polls, Kalita said the party has used only one chopper.
“We have to use choppers for campaigning due to time constraint. Using choppers does not mean indulging in luxury,” he said. (PTI)