Tag: Himanta Biswa Sarma

  • Congress polarised Assam’s poll atmosphere by aligning with AIUDF: Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: Senior Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday alleged the Congress has communally polarised the assembly election environment in the northeastern state by joining hands with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF which, he said, will benefit the ruling NDA.

    Sarma, also convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said had the Congress contested separately, the three-phase assembly polls would have been fought on the plank of development.

    But the opposition party has made this poll into a “conflict of civilisation’ by aligning with the AIUDF, Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of book release event.

    The AIUDF is a part of the Grand Alliance comprising the Congress, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), CPI(M), CPI, CPI-ML and the Anchalik Gana Morcha.

    Replying to a query on the possible impact of the Congress-All India United Democratic Front(AIUDF) alliance, Sarma said, “Yes, it will positively impact us. It will lead to complete polarisation because people of Assam will not vote for the AIUDF. So, by forming an alliance with a communal party, the Congress has polarised the elections completely.”

    The BJP’s campaign for the assembly polls in the northeastern state will focus on ‘surakshya’ (security), ‘sabhayata’ (civilisation) and ‘vikas’ (development), the NEDA convenor said.

    “We talk about ‘surakshya’ all along because the composite Assamese culture is under threat,” he said.

    The saffron party will raise the issue of security from across the border as well as from within the state, the senior minister said.

    “We talk about civilisation because it is under threat. Then we have to talk about development. These will be the three pillars of our campaign,” Sarma said.

    When asked if Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be an issue during the polls, Sarma said, nobody is concerened about it “as it lost traction after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state and the world.

    “Neither am I speaking for it nor against it. People have gone beyond that. Already Parliament has passed a law. It is a fait accompli. People have seen many things over the last one year. They are talking about something else now. The focus has shifted from CAA to Ajmal.”

    On whether jailed anti-CAA activist and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi, who is contesting polls, will be a factor, Sarma said, he will only divide the votes of the opposition parties and the BJP will not be affected by it.

    “I think there will be a massive victory for the BJP in Assam. We are trying to improve our tally from that of last time. I am hopeful of a huge victory. We are targeting 100 seats in the 126-member Assembly,” he added.

    The 2016 elections in Assam had given a fractured mandate and no party got an absolute majority.

    The BJP became the single largest party with 60 MLAs, while its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BPF had won 14 and 12 seats respectively.

    The ruling coalition also had the support of an Independent MLA.

    The Congress had won 26 seats, while the AIUDF bagged 13.

    When asked if the BJP considers this election as ‘the last battle of Saraighat’, Sarma said the party considered the 2016 polls to be so and this time it will be continuation of the victory in the last assembly polls.

    In the famous Battle of Saraighat in 1671, Ahom general Lachit Borphukan had defeated the Mughals led by Raja Ramsingh-I.

    “Now, we are on a much better footing to fight the civilisational conflict. Last time, we were not in a strong position as we were not in power. In 2016 assembly polls, we had given a war cry of “last battle of Saraighat’,” he said.

    The BJP had termed 2016 assembly polls as the “last battle of Saraighat” to defeat the former chief minister Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government.

    On friendly contests in some seats between the NDA partners BJP and AGP, the Finance and Health minister said, “It doesn’t matter. I will tell you after the election why (it happened). If I explain it now, my entire plan will fail. It is sufficient to say that we are solid partners and what we are doing is known to both partners.”

  • BJP not to announce CM face in Assam before polls, says state chief

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: BJP will not announce the chief ministerial candidate before the Assam polls and a decision in this regard will be taken by its Parliamentary Board at the time of forming the next government, the saffron party state unit president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said on Monday.

    Incumbent chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and influential minister and convenor of the North East Democratic Front (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma have also said the ultimate decision on selecting a person for the chief minister chair in the new government will be that of the party’s Parliamentary board.

    This is in contrary to the position in 2016, when BJP had projected the then union minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its chief ministerial face before the elections were held.

    “When there is no government, then the CM name is projected. When we are in government, then we do not project any name for the CM post,” Dass told PTI in an interview.

    He claimed that not a single BJP worker has asked this question about the name of chief ministerial candidate, and only the media is enquiring about it.

    “At the time of forming the government, the Parliamentary Board will take a decision on the issue,” Dass said without elaborating. Its not only the BJP-led coalition which is going to the state polls without a chief ministerial face, even the Congress-headed Grand Alliance has not projected anybody for the top post. When asked if he will be one of the prospects for the top position if the BJP-led alliance returns to power, Dass, who is former Assembly Speaker said, “I am not in the race.

    Why will I be there? I never spoke of myself in this regard.

    ” On the reports that many loyalists of the state Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma got tickets, Dass accepted the murmuring, but said those close aides of Sarma have been working in the respective constituencies for the last two years.

    “Their names naturally cropped up in our survey ‘Janata Ki Awaz’. ..Even before projecting Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, the party spoke to 6. 4 lakh people across the country,” he added.

    When asked about BJP not projecting the chief ministerial face in Assam, Sonowal said it is up to the party and the parliamentary board will decide the name.

    On whether the top post will remain with a person from the Upper Assam or somewhere else, the chief minister said, “You should not raise this question. BJP is genuinely a democratic party and we firmly believe in peoples’ democracy. hat’s it.”

    Sonowal hails from Dibrugarh which is in upper Assam.

    Sarma’s native place is in Nalbari district which is in the lower Assam.

    Reacting to the issue of naming a person for the chief minister’s post, the NEDA convenor declined to make a direct comment and said the BJP central leadership has clarified about this in New Delhi.

    Asked specifically if he is ready to be the next chief minister from the BJP, Sarma said, “It is the prerogative of the parliamentary board to announce a candidate.

    It can be done tomorrow or day after tomorrow or post-election.

    “I think we should patiently wait for an announcement from Delhi. ” On the allegations about many of his loyalists getting tickets which hinted at him leading the next government, Sarma dismissed the speculation and said only the BJP loyalists have got ticket.

    “I think you should not divide our party on the basis of individuals. All people who got tickets are loyalists of Bharat Mata and loyalists of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he added.

    Going without its veteran leader Tarun Gogoi, who died recently, the Congress has formed a Grand Alliance with AIUDF, Bodoland People’s front, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) for the state elections.

    The opposition camp has also not named its CM nominee in the event of them winning the election.

    The BJP has announced the first list of candidates for 70 seats, while left 26 and eight constituencies for its allies AGP and UPPL respectively.

    Of the total 126 seats in Assam Assembly, elections to 47 will be held on March 27, while 39 will go to polls on April 1 and voting in the remaining 40 seats will be held on April 6.

  • Congress used Taiwan tea garden photos for Assam poll campaign: Himanta

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Two tea garden photos have triggered a controversy in poll-bound Assam.

    The state’s Finance Minister and BJP leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed the photos from Taiwan were being used by the Congress on its Assam campaign page.

    The Congress rubbished it as “fake”. The party decided to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India.

    “Official Congress campaign page is using a photo of tea garden from Taiwan to say ‘Assam Bachao’ (Save Assam). Congress leaders can’t even recognise Assam? This is an insult of Assam and Tea Garden workers of our state,” Sarma tweeted, sharing a screenshot of one of the photos.

    He shared the other photo in another tweet. “First Congress couldn’t identify Assam, now Congress can’t even recognise Assamese people. This is again a pic from Taiwan. Congress leaders have forgotten Assam. Let’s show @INCIndia how beautiful our land is,” he wrote.

    The Congress accused the BJP, which heads the state’s ruling coalition, of resorting to propaganda.

    First Congress couldn’t identify Assam, now Congress can’t even recognise Assamese people.This is again a pic from Taiwan.Congress leaders have forgotten Assam. Let’s show @INCIndia how beautiful our land is. #CongressInsultsAssam pic.twitter.com/TfRxXdfUAK
    — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 4, 2021

    “BJP is rattled. As people are connecting with the Congress and looking for progress to come back, the BJP, bereft of any issue to sell to people of Assam after their game of promises, is resorting to such false propaganda against us,” Congress leader Bobeeta Sarma said.

    She said the minister should have verified the photos before using them.

    “And if deliberately using, then it is unfortunate that a Minister is resorting to false propaganda. We are filing a complaint to EC,” she added.

    Under “Assam Bachao”, Congress leaders took out bus rides across the state to meet voters and understand their problems.

    The focus of BJP and Congress is more on the tea garden votes this election. Assam has 126 Assembly segments and in around one/third of them, the votes of tea workers determine the fate of candidates.

    Hiking their daily wage to Rs 365 is one of the five-point “guarantees” of the Congress. The BJP too doled out money to the workers and took up other welfare initiatives for them.

  • ‘We are a 6,000-year-old civilisation’: Himanta bats for Hindu immigrants, slams CAA critics

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Backing the Centre’s decision to protect Hindu immigrants through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asked critics of the CAA to view India as a civilisation that started 6,000 years ago.

    “Ours is a Hindu civilisation. India didn’t start in 1947 but 6,000 years ago. People who believe India started in 1947 find a difference between Assamese and Hinduism/Indians. Those who believe India started 6,000 years ago don’t see that difference. That is the fundamental point of view. We want to fight the upcoming (Assembly) elections on that agenda,” Sarma said at the release of his fourth book titled “Eta Xopunor Pom Khedi” (Chasing a Dream).

    Calling himself a Hindu first, he said, “If you believe in the Sanatani dharma and are a Hindu, you will accommodate everyone who is not a threat. I am a Hindu and my duty is to strike a balance between the interests of Hinduism and the interests of Assam. When you will see the final outcome of the CAA or its rules, you will see a fine balance between Hindu interests and the interests of Assam.”

    Sarma, the BJP’s face in the Northeast, said he takes pride in the fact that he is a Hindu who is following in the footsteps of medieval saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.

    “There won’t be an iota of doubt in our election manifesto this time around. We stand for staunch nationalism and positive regionalism. When we said ‘jati’, an Assamese thought the community referred to was Assamese but I meant Hindu,” the Minister said.

    In its 2016 election manifesto, the BJP had pledged to protect “jati” (community), “mati” (land) and “bheti” (foundation).

    Sarma said the Assamese think of the Assamese language, not of the Bodo, Rabha, Mishing, Dimasa, Karbi languages. He said the BJP has gone to an extent that not only Assamese, the languages of the state’s tribals must also be revived as they, as well as Assam, are a part of that great Indian tradition.

    “(Playwright, songwriter, poet and writer) Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Bishnu Rabha (known for his contributions in the fields of music, dance, painting and literature) never saw a difference between Bharat and Assam. In every song of Rabha, you will get a reference of Lord Krishna…

    “Call me a chauvinist or communal, I don’t view any Indian living in India or abroad as a stranger. I see those as Hindus who see Bharat as their motherland. He could be a Muslim, Hindu or Christian. If there is a conflict between his religious scripture and India, he will vouch for India, not his religious views. This is my definition of Hinduism,” Sarma said.

    Various organisations in Assam are angry over the Centre’s move to ‘dump’ Hindu Bangladeshis in the state through the CAA. They want the government to respect the Assam Accord, signed between the then Rajiv Gandhi government and the All Assam Students’ Union in 1985 at the end of the six-year-long bloody Assam Agitation.

    As per the accord, the immigrants, irrespective of faith, who entered Assam after March 24 (midnight), 1971 have to detected and deported. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951 was updated in the state based on this cut-off date.

  • Not willing to contest assembly poll, informed BJP a year ago: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: Senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that he communicated to state BJP chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass a year ago that he did not wish to contest the 2021 assembly election.

    He, however, said that if the party decides to field him to contest the poll likely to be held in March-April, he will honour the decision.

    The BJP leader did not disclose the reason for his unwillingness to fight the election.

    ALSO READ | Two journalists arrested for attempt to ‘malign’ Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

    “On my birthday on February 1, 2020, I gave a letter to Ranjeet Dass saying that I don’t want to fight the 2021 assembly polls. This is not known to my wife or son or any family member till now. I am making it public for the first time,” Sarma said.

    “However, there was one line (in that letter) which stated that if the party decides to field me as a candidate, I will follow the party’s instruction,” said Sarma, also the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the regional arm of the NDA.

    The letter was hand-written and not typed, he said.

  • Two journalists arrested for attempt to ‘malign’ Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: Two journalists were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged attempt to malign Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after they shared a photo of him along with his daughter with a “salacious intent”, police said.

    Taufiquddin Ahmad, the Editor-in-Chief of local news website Pratibimba Live, and its News Editor Iqbal were arrested to investigate the “conspiracy”, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) GP Singh said.

    Police would take strong action against all such attempts under stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, he said.

    They were arrested on the basis of a case registered at the Dispur police station under IPC section 509 (intending to insult the modesty of any woman), and sections 14 and 21 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

    “Action shall be taken against all persons irrespective of their place of residence who use any of the social media platforms to maliciously use such platforms for furthering this conspiracy,” Singh added.

    The website had shared a photo of the minister hugging his daughter, following which it went viral on social media.

    The website later apologized for not mentioning that the girl in the photo was the minister’s daughter and blamed others for sharing it with the intent to defame Sarma.

    The news outlet received backlash for the intent to post the photo with Sarma retweeting it and mentioning that it was him and his daughter.

    Police said they are investigating the matter to identify those behind the post going viral.

  • Assam slashes fuel, liquor prices; Opposition terms it ‘poll gimmick’

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: In poll-bound Assam, the BJP-led government has rolled back the COVID-19 cess on petrol, diesel, and liquor.

    Presenting a vote-on-account for Rs 60,784.03 crore in the Assembly, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said petrol and diesel would be cheaper by Rs 5 from Friday midnight. Similarly, the government has decided to roll back 25% cess on alcohol.

    Sarma said the government was forced to levy the additional cess on fuel and liquor during the difficult times of the pandemic.

    “…Now, as the number of COVID-infected people has got reduced drastically, the government has decided to withdraw the additional cess on petrol, diesel, and alcohol. I am thankful to my Cabinet colleagues who endorsed my proposal on the cess rollback,” the minister said in the Assembly on Friday.

    The opposition parties viewed it as a move by the BJP to woo voters. “Fuel hike has been going on all over the country for a long time. Why didn’t they lower the prices before? It is an election stunt. You will notice that once the polls are over, they will hike the prices again,” Assam Congress leader Bobeeta Sarma told this newspaper.

    The Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), floated last year against the backdrop of the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, also viewed the government’s move as election-centric.

    “This is an election-centric decision. For close to five years, they kept hiking the prices of fuel. Now, by lowering the prices, they are trying to attract the voters,” AJP chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.

    Assam is expected to go to elections in the early part of April. The BJP has set its sights on 100 of the state’s 126 seats.

  • Ahead of Assam polls, Sonowal govt holds teacher recruitment drive, 29,701 get jobs

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Eye on the upcoming Assembly elections, Assam on Friday carried out the largest recruitment drive in recent years by giving jobs to 29,701 teachers.

    “Largest Recruitment Drive Ever! 16,484 are being provincialised today and we’ll be distributing appt letters to 29,701 teachers incl 13,217 fresh recruits, at Sarusajai stadium,” Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had tweeted ahead of the distribution of appointment letters at a ceremony in Guwahati.

    The 13,217 fresh recruits had cleared the Teachers’ Eligibility Test. The 16,484 others had been serving in non-provincialised schools for years, some for decades. A section of them has barely one-two years left in service.

    Speaking at the programme, Sarma said ensuring education and health to the people is the primary responsibility of a government.

    “There are some among you who will attain the age of retirement in a few years. The prime time of many of your lives has got wasted. This situation was created by our predecessors. The previous governments should have taken the responsibility of establishing schools,” the minister said.

    Largest Recruitment Drive! Distribution of appointment letters to 29701 teachers , at Sarusajai stadium.Largest Recruitment Drive! Distribution of appointment letters to 29701 teachers , at Sarusajai stadium. https://t.co/3FFtqaVZJj
    — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 5, 2021

    He appealed to people not to open schools and colleges. He said if a school or a college is needed somewhere, people should apply to the government and it would get the institute established.

    Sarma advised that schools and colleges, which were set up before 2006, should be turned into private institutes.

    “People who opened schools and colleges before 2006, they should convert those to private institutes. Do not approach the government for provincialisation anymore,” he said.

    Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who also spoke, said he had made an announcement on August 15 last year that the state government would give 50,000 jobs.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. If we want to achieve it, we shall have to first build Atmanirbhar Assam. The teachers will have an important role to play in it. They shall have to ensure a skilled future generation which can compete all over the world,” Sonowal said.

  • Sole aim of Congress, other regional parties is to bring Babur’s rule in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    NALBARI: Senior BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the sole aim of the entire opposition, comprising the Congress-led Grand Alliance and the newly-formed regional parties, is to bring “Babur’s rule” in the state.

    Addressing a rally in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here, the NDA’s regional wing North East Democratic Alliance Convenor also asked the opposition whether Hindus will be able to follow their faith if it forms the government.

    “The only aim of (AIUDF chief Badruddin) Ajmal, Congress and regional parties is how to bring (Mughal emperor) Babur’s rule in Assam.

    But, till the BJP’s Hanumans are there, we will move ahead with Ram’s ideals,” Sarma said.

    ALSO READ: PM Modi, BJP committed to fulfil clauses of Bodo Accord: Union Minister Amit Shah

    The Congress has formed the Grand Alliance with AIUDF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and the Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) to fight the upcoming assembly elections, likely to be held in March-April.

    A new regional political party, the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), was formed jointly by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP).

    Jailed anti-CAA leader Akhil Gogoi’s Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and 70 other groups have formed another party — Raijor Dal.

    Training guns at the AIUDF chief, the Assam health and family welfare minister said, “Ajmal told Muslims won’t be able to go to mosques if BJP wins.

    I want to ask today whether Hindus can visit temples if Congress and AIUDF form the government in the state.”

    He asserted that till the “BJP is alive”, Ajmal will not be able to enter within 100 km of Dispur, the locality of the Assam secretariat.

    Sarma also alleged that followers of Ajmal attacked ‘Satras’, the Vaishnavite places of worship, at Batadrava and other areas.

    Attacking the AASU, which has been protesting against the visit of the prime minister and home minister, Sarma said, “Today you are taking out a torchlight procession against Amit Shah. But did you donate a single unit of plasma when we were fighting against COVID-19?”

  • Assam government to give scooters, financial incentives to girl students: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The Assam government will give scooters and financial incentives to girl students to ensure that they attend classes regularly, Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

    The state government was currently distributing 22,000 two-wheelers to Class 12 girl students who passed in the first division from the state board under the Pragyan Bharti Scheme, he said at Sivasagar on Sunday.

    The state government will incur an expenditure of Rs 144.30 crore for the purpose.

    The state government will provide scooters to all girl students who passed in the first division from the state board even if the number crosses a lakh, he said.

    Scooters will also be provided to all girl students who passed Class 12 examination in the first division in 2018 and 2019.

    Financial incentives will also be provided to all girl students from school to post-graduate level and the scheme would be launched by the end of this month.

    He said that girl school students would be given Rs 100 daily for each day so that they attend school while an amount of Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 will be given to undergraduate and postgraduate students respectively.

    The minister further said that they had plans to launch this scheme last year but it was delayed due to the spread of COVID-19.

    The minster is on a visit to distribute scooters also participated in a cycle rally on Monday.

    Meanwhile, attendance in schools, which reopened on January one after being closed for nearly 10 months due to COVID-19, was much higher on Monday than the first two days.