The Assam Congress has intensified its attack on the BJP over the threat call made by State Minister and Jagiroad MLA Pijush Hazarika to two journalist.
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.
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The Assam Congress staged a protest in front of the Manabendra Sarma Complex at Dispur in Guwahati against Pijush Hazarika’s threat call to two journalist.
The Assam Congress staged the 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.
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Top Assam Congress leaders Ripun Bora, Pradyut Bordoloi, Sushmita Dev and Bobbeeta Sharma led the protest against Pijush Hazarika.
The Assam Congress also submitted a memorandum to the Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) urging the Commission “to take prompt and necessary action” against Pijush Hazarika “to disqualify his candidature” from the ongoing Assam Assembly elections.
The Assam Congress has further urged the Election Commission to “issue directions for filing FIR/Complaint” against Pijush Hazarika under Section 123 of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 and Section 171C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
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.
Also read: Assam Congress moves Election Commission over EVM ‘theft’ and ‘entry’ into strong room
Speaking to the media, Assam Congress president Ripun Bora said: “Assam will not allow the mockery of democracy, as is BJP resorting to, in the wake of an impending defeat!”
Assam Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi said: “Now that BJP knows it is losing in Assam, it is employing unfair tactics like #EVM manipulation! Exemplary action must be taken by the Election Commission in order to ensure that democracy is not jeopardised in the state!”
Senior Assam Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP from Silchar Sushmita Dev said: “All BJP candidates are resorting to illegal means. People are with us, BJP is perturbed.”