GUWAHATI, Jan 13: Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly and senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has termed newly-inducted Congress member Rejaul Karim Sarkar’s controversial ‘Greater Assam of Bor Asom’ statement as “inappropriate and damaging” to the party, ahead of the Assembly elections, which are barely two months away.
In a letter to Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi, Saikia stated that the controversial statement made by the former president of All Assam Minorities Students’ Union sparked an undue controversy across Assam, with his remarks about “turning Sivasagar to Dhubri, Dhubri to Sivasagar, Barak to Sivasagar, Tinsukia to Dhubri”.
“Regardless of intent, the phrasing and timing of such a statement are not only inappropriate but also damaging to our party, especially when certain media and social media platforms are portraying us in a negative light. His statement was served on a platter to further damage us,” Saikia stated in the letter to Gogoi.
“I cannot therefore align with Sarkar’s statement. Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Barak and Dhubri are not interchangeable. Each possesses its own unique substance and historical importance. Our identity as a nation and state is forged from this plurality of people and culture,” the senior Congress leader stated.
“Just as Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar and Siva Doul of Sivasagar are integral to our heritage, so too are Mahamaya Dham, Netai Dhubuni Ghat, Gurudwara Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib, Rangamati Mosque and Panchpeer Dargala of Dhubri,” he said.
“Furthermore, with barely two months remaining until the election, his statement has caused significant damage to our party, particularly in the critical region of Upper Assam,” Saikia said.
He further underscored the need for consultation with the party’s collective leadership before formally inducting “any person with any kind of controversy, to ensure alignment with our values and prevent such avoidable controversies.”
“Furthermore, I hope these kinds of situations can be avoided in the future where we do not have to contradict such statements from any leaders,” Saikia stated.
