GUWAHATI: The ruling Congress in Assam on Tuesday filed an FIR with the police against BJP leader and former Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for “inciting” Monday’s violence outside Rajib Bhavan in Guwahati even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi accused the BJP of trying to import ‘Gunda Raj’ to the State.
The Congress’ filing of the FIR against Sarma was based on his phone conversation of Monday, where he was heard instructing BJP workers to march, allegedly to Rajib Bhavan, following their protest outside the residence of former Congress Minister, Nilamoni Sen Deka, who stirred up the hornet’s nest by making “disparaging” and objectionable remarks against Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
“It was Himanta Biswa Sarma who incited the violence on Monday. So, we have filed an FIR against him,” Pradesh Congress Committee president Anjan Dutta told reporters. But Sarma wondered how he could be held guilty for instructing BJP workers to take out a march. “I had asked them to march. So, how did I incite the violence?” he asked.
A section of Congress leaders was mounting pressure on Gogoi, who is also the Home Minister, seeking Sarma’s arrest. Police on Tuesday arrested five BJP workers, including two leaders, in connection with the violence that left BJP and Congress workers injured.