GUWAHATI: “Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is engaged in a dangerous conspiracy against the state.”
This was claimed by Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah on Tuesday (April 23).
Assam Congress chief Bupen Borah made this statement while reacting to a recent statement by union minister and Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh – Kiren Rijiju.
Rijiju said that Chakma and Hajong refugees, currently residing in Arunachal Pradesh, should be relocated to Assam.
Kiren Rijiju stated that the Chakma and Hajong refugees should be resettled outside Arunachal Pradesh before they are eligible for Indian citizenship under the citizenship amendment act (CAA).
He said that the Assam chief minister, in consultation with the Arunachal Pradesh government, emphasized on resettlement of Chakmas and Hajongs in Assam.
“We engaged in discussions with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding relocation of Chakmas to Assam,” the union minister said.
Also read: No plan of relocating Chakmas-Hajongs from Arunachal to Assam: CM Sarma
Reacting to these remarks of the union minister, Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the Northeast state, which is led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“Union minister Kiren Rijiju has clearly stated that Arunachal Pradesh won’t accept any refugees from neighbouring countries,” said Borah.
He added: “But Assam CM like an obedient subordinate, has agreed to Amit Shah’s order to settle five lakh Hajong-Chakma refugees in Assam.”
The Assam Congress president further stated: “This was unwittingly revealed by Kiren Rijiju in a press conference.”
Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah also claimed that the people of the state would “never accept such a proposal”.
“On April 26 and May 07 the people of Assam would show their opposition to the CM’s conspiracy through the means of their vote,” the Assam Congress chief added.
Meanwhile, opposition MLA in Assam – Akhil Gogoi has slammed the BJP government in the state, led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the proposed relocation of people belonging to Chakma and Hajong communities from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam.
Also read: US state department human rights report highlights ‘significant abuses’ in Manipur
Gogoi called for clarity from Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the state government’s stance on the matter, while denouncing the Chakma-Hajong relocation proposal.
The Assam opposition MLA raised concerns about whether Assam being transformed into a ‘dustbin’ for foreign nationals.
Gogoi alleged that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had yielded to pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led national democratic alliance (NDA) government at the Centre in an attempt to conceal his purported ‘scams’.
“If CM Himanta Biswa Sarma brings foreigners into Assam with the intent of resettling them under the CAA, he will face legal action,” Assam opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi warned.
However, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma refuted the claims, stating: “There are no plans or discussions in regards to relocation of Chakma and Hajong refugees from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam.”
“No discussion was held with Arunachal Pradesh regarding relocation of Chakma and Hajong refugees (to Assam),” said CM Sarma.
“We only talked about granting citizenship to Moran and Muttock people living in Arunachal Pradesh,” said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.