Police complaint lodged against Assam CM for 'hate speech' against Sonia Gandhi
Guwahati (PTI): Senior Assam Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has filed a police complaint against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged "hateful statement" such as Lok Sabha MP and former party president Sonia Gandhi's residence should be burnt.
Sarma made the alleged statement during a rally in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh on September 18.
"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," Saikia, the leader of the opposition in the Assam Assembly, said in his complaint.
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.
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.
Gandhi happens to be 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 BJP leader is liable to be booked under Sections 153 (provocation causing rioting) and Sections 115/436 (abetment to violence) of the IPC, Saikia said.
In the complaint lodged on September 20, he provided the link to a newspaper report on the speech of the Assam chief minister.
Saikia said, "We have appealed to the police to register an FIR in this regard'.
A senior police official of Sivasagar district said that they are examining the complaint filed and are yet to decide on it.
The chief minister is currently campaigning for the BJP in poll-bound Rajasthan and has not commented on the filing of the complaint by Saikia.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
