Guwahati: With Assam state on the verge of protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, with ruling party’s track record with communal remarks across the nation, such remarks can actually fuel tensions prevailing over the Bill between the communities who are struggling to stand their ground on the issue.
Pradip Dutta Roy- a BJP leader was suspended by Assam BJP chief on Sunday for his communal remarks in the state, TOI reports.
“Pradip Dutta Roy has been suspended from the party with immediate effect… for going against party discipline and taking a stand that goes against the party’s principles,” Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said.
Last week on Wednesday, a section of students at the Assam University in Silchar had staged a protest against the bill. A day later, another section staged a rally in support of the bill.
The very same day, Dutta told: “I will write to the vice-chancellor to take action against students who are indulging in politics by staging protests against the bill … Otherwise, Assamese students will be stopped from studying at the university.”
These communal statements angered the students with the Cotton University Students’ Union and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad lodging FIRs against Dutta while the All Assam Students’ Union demanded his arrest.
“Dutta’s remarks could fuel tension between the people of the Barak Valley and the Brahmaputra Valley,” a BJP leader said. Coming under fire, Dutta retracted his statement.