Ripun Bora
APCC president Ripun Bora. Image credit: UB photos

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah for the latter’s statement on the alliance between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, which is all set to form government in the State.

Amit Shah termed the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka as ‘unholy’ during the 3rd conclave of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) held in Guwahati on May 20.

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Reacting to Shah’s comment, APCC president Ripun Bora during a press conference at the Rajiv Bhavan here on Tuesday questioned the BJP chief’s alliance between the BJP and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) in 2016 and asked, “What was that if the Congress-JD(S) alliance is unholy in Karnataka? Why did the BJP form alliance with the PDP?”

Bora claimed that it was the PDP which had opposed the capital punishment of Afjal Guru, a Kashmiri separatist, who was convicted for his role in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. “PDP supports separatists in Jammu & Kashmir,” Bora added.

The APCC president further questioned the BJP over the break-up of their alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh.

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Moreover, Bora said, “The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which is its partner in the government in Assam, has condemned the BJP-led Central government’s move to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. The AGP has been reiterating their stand to quit alliance immediately if the Centre implements the Bill. Is this BJP’s holy alliance with the AGP?”

He further alleged that BJP can form alliance with any political party to remain in power.

Bora added, “The Conrad Sangma-led Cabinet rejected the Citizenship Bill where the BJP is a part of the Meghalaya coalition government. The hilly States always go with the party which remains in power at the Centre. Congress-mukt India is not possible. But there will be a BJP-mukt India soon.”

Speaking on the hike of petrol and diesel prices, Bora said, “The BJP included hike in prices as an agenda in its 2014 Lok Sabha election manifesto. During the UPA regime, due to the increase in price of crude oil at the international level, there was a less amount of price hike of petrol and diesel.”

Talking on the question paper leak of the Panchayat and Rural Development’s (P&RD) recruitment test for various posts conducted on May 20, Bora demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the matter.

Bora said, “Panchayat and Rural Development (Independent) Minister Naba Kumar Doley should accept his failure in properly conducting the recruitment test in an organised manner and should resign as a minister.”

It may be mentioned that one Blum Electronics company of Tamil Nadu conducted the recruitment test for various posts under the P&RD Department in Assam.