Senior Assam Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has filed a police complaint against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged “hateful remarks” against Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
While speaking at an election rally in Vidisha district of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on September 18, Sarma had allegedly said that the “residence of Sonia Gandhi should be burnt”.
“Congress party knows that this country has 80 per cent Hindus, still they say that Hindu is malaria and AIDS and Hindu religion should be eradicated…I know this one thing Rahul ji, you can become a Hindu Hriday Samrat if you remove those people who are giving such statements against Hinduism from your party. I want to challenge Kamal Nath, if you are a Hanuman Bhakt, Hanuman burnt Lanka, you should burn 10 Janpath. Go there and say those who are giving statements against Hinduism, you should remove such people otherwise you should burn 10 Janpath,” the Assam CM said, as quoted by The Indian Express.
In his complaint, Saikia, who is the leader of opposition in the Assam Assembly, said, “While taunting Kamal Nath, a prominent member of the Indian National Congress, about his Hindu identity, Sarma has directly suggested that 10, Janpath should be burnt.” The address 10, Janpath is Sonia Gandhi’s residence.
“In a country governed by the rule of law, Sarma has taken electoral rhetoric to its ugliest form” and gave a “clear instigation towards violence and arson”, Saikia said in his complaint lodged on September 20.
He said that Gandhi is the widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and by “suggesting that the residence of a 77-year-old lady be burnt down, Sarma is not just attacking a prominent face of the opposition but is also giving a clarion call towards arson”, he stated.
“Such wanton statements coming from a person with constitutional authority has the potential of causing misguided persons to resort to violence and potentially cause harm to the residents of 10 Janpath,” Saikia said.
The Congress leader said that though the statement was made in Madhya Pradesh, it has been widely circulated over print, electronic and social media and it is accessible in Assam.
He said that the CM is liable to be booked under Sections 153 (provocation causing rioting) and Sections 115/436 (abetment to violence) of the IPC, Saikia said.
Meanwhile, a senior police official of Sivasagar district told news agency PTI that they are examining the complaint filed and are yet to decide on it.