With just 2 days left for the third phase of Assam Assembly elections, the Congress has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also be barred from campaigning.
This statement from the Congress comes just a day after Assam Minister BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma was barred from campaigning by the Election Commission (EC) for 48 hours.
The duration of ban on Himanta Biswa Sarma was, however, reduced to 24 hours, after the Assam BJP leader submitted an “unconditional apology” to the Commission.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday said the EC should also ban PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda from campaigning to ensure free and fair elections in the state.
“BJP has lost polls and is resorting to tactics to influence polls. It should also bar Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sarbananda Sonowal and JP Nadda for free and fair polls,” Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
The Congress leader also urged the EC to investigate the matter of “stolen EVMs that were found from the car of BJP candidate” in Assam.
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Earlier on Saturday, The Assam Congress staged a protest in front of the Manabendra Sarma Complex at Dispur in Guwahati against BJP leader Pijush Hazarika’s threat call to two journalist.
The Assam Congress staged protest in demand for cancellation of Pijush Hazarika’s candidature in the Assam Assembly elections.
Congress leaders including Salman Khurshid and Gourav Vallabh also participated in the protest.
Top Assam Congress leaders Ripun Bora, Pradyut Bordoloi, Sushmita Dev and Bobbeeta Sharma led the protest against Pijush Hazarika.
Assam Minister and Jagiroad MLA Pijush Hazarika on Thursday (April 1) after conclusion of the second phase of Assam Assembly elections had threatened two journalist of an Assamese news channel with dire consequences.
The Assam Congress also moved the Election Commission over incidents of EVM ‘theft’ and ‘entry’ of “suspicious individuals” into a strong room.
Assam Congress President Ripun Bora in a letter to Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) – Nitin Khade has urged the Assam State Election Commission to “cause enquiries and take legal actions against all individuals found guilty”.
The Assam Congress in its letter to the Election Commission listed incidents, wherein EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) were found in vehicles, which were “not requisitioned for election purpose”.
Apart from the incident where EVM was recovered from a vehicle belonging to BJP MLA and candidate of the saffron party from Patharkandi constituency – Krishnendu Paul, the Assam Congress also listed three other incidents, where EVMs were recovered under “mysterious circumstances” from vehicles “not requisitioned for election purpose”.
Notably, the Assam Congress also raised the issue of entry of “suspicious individuals” into a restricted area in a strong room in Dibrugarh.
“…in the Strong Room set in Dibrugarh, suspicious individuals were seen loitering within a restricted area. The Congress party has lodged complaint with the returning officer,” the Assam Congress added in its letter to the State Election Commission.