AGP betrayed people of Assam by aligning with BJP: Congress

GUWAHATI: The opposition Congress has said that AGP has betrayed the trust of the people of Assam by deciding to tie-up with BJP once again. He added that AGP's decision is inexplicable because senior BJP leaders have already said that they would try to get the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill passed if the saffron party comes back to power at the Centre.


"It is very unfortunate that AGP has flouted the resolutions adopted at the state-wide citizens' convention at Guwahati on March 11, which highlighted the necessity of defeating the undemocratic and anti-Assam RSS-BJP combine in the

Lok Sabha elections

. The resolution had also stated that the need of the hour is for all anti-BJP forces to come together," leader of Opposition in assembly Debabrata Saikia said.

"AGP had parted ways with the BJP in the state over the contentious citizenship bill. But now, the greed for power has prevailed over the responsibilities of the regional party. By joining hands with the BJP once again, AGP has betrayed the trust of the people of Assam. This is unforgivable," Saikia added.

The Congress leader further said that AGP's decision is unacceptable because BJP national president Amit Shah, state unit president Ranjit Dass and other senior leaders have categorically declared that the BJP will again try to pass the citizenship bill if the party comes back to power at the Centre. "Therefore, BJP's stance regarding the bill has not changed at all. Yet, AGP has shamelessly joined hands with the BJP. If the bill becomes an Act, it will automatically nullify the Assam Accord which was signed by people who are AGP leaders now," he said.

He said that Congress has stayed true to the interests of the people of Assam by playing a pivotal role in thwarting the bill in the

Rajya Sabha

and thereby safeguarding the interests and sentiments of the people of Assam and the northeast. "Certain vested interests are striving to portray the Congress as a silent spectator. But the fact remains that the Congress mounted an uncompromising opposition to the bill and stood for the sentiments of all right-thinking sections of the people of Assam. It thus foiled the BJP's designs to pass the bill in the recently-concluded Budget session of the Parliament," he said.

"I am confident that the people of Assam will give a befitting reply to the unholy alliance cobbled together by the cynical BJP and AGP," he added.