Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his Republic Day address at Dibrugarh today, once again raised the issue of BR Ambedkar, claiming India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, kept him out of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution. Mr Sarma claimed this while emphasizing on the challenges Dr Ambedkar faced while drafting the Constitution.

“Babasaheb Ambedkar is the founder of our Constitution. His inclusion in the constituency assembly had many challenges. His name was not there in the first list of members of Constituent assembly who were to draft the constitution,” the Chief Minister said. 

A Dalit leader from East Bengal, Jogendranath Mondal, proposed Dr Ambedkar’s name in his place and only after that he had the opportunity to be part of the historic work, he said. 

“Today I remember a statement of Pandit Nehru about the inclusion of Ambedkar. Nehru had claimed that Ambedkar was a trouble-maker and wanted to keep him outside the constituent assembly,” he said.

The Chief Minister further claimed that Ambedkar was included because Mahatma Gandhi recognised the merit in him and trusted his ability and took a stand against the position Nehru had taken.

“This decision of Gandhi was proved to be fruitful by the constituent assembly led by Ambedkar who gave us a constitution based on equality and brotherhood,” he added. 

The Chief Minister’s statement has drawn sharp reactions from the Congress.

Leader of Opposition in Assam assembly Debabrata Saikia condemned the remarks and alleged it was an attempt to defame Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru by distorting the truth.

“Initially Ambedkar was elected to constituency assembly from Bengal. But after partition his constituency went to Pakistan and he has to vacate his seat. It was Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel who went to Gandhi-ji to discuss this. After this Ambedkar was offered a seat in the constituent assembly by vacating a seat from Pune,” Mr Saikia told reporters.

New Delhi:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Monday and discussed various development issues pertaining to the state.

Chief Minister Himanta Sarma also invited PM Modi to attend the investor summit which will be held in Assam in February next year.

Taking to X, the Chief Minister wrote, “Today in New Delhi, I had the privilege to receive Adarniya Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji’s guidance on various developmental issues. On behalf of the people of Assam, I also had the pleasure to invite him to bless the Assam Investor & Infrastructure Summit and Mega Jhumur Performance in February 2025 which he has kindly accepted to grace.”

Today in New Delhi, I had the privilege to receive Adarniya Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji’s guidance on various developmental issues.

On behalf of the people of Assam, I also had the pleasure to invite him to bless the Assam Investor & Infrastructure Summit and Mega… pic.twitter.com/gSV6hI0Bec

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 2, 2024

Notably, “Advantage Assam 2.0,” the Investment and Infrastructure Summit will bring Assam’s rich cultural legacy to the world stage.

According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the event which will be held from February 24 and 25, will highlight the traditional Jhumur dance of the tea tribe clans.

Mr Sarma said, “This summit is a platform to showcase Assam’s rich traditions to a global audience in addition to attracting investors.”

A Jhumur dance performance with more than 7,500 dancers and artists will be part of the event. It will be an extraordinary show, with 32 female dancers and an equal number of male dancers representing each of Assam’s 800+ tea gardens, the Chief Minister stated.

The preparations are underway for this cultural event.

The Chief Minister said, “Perfect execution will be ensured by master training workshops, constituency-level sessions, district-level performances, and final rehearsals in Guwahati.”

The concert, which is planned for either day of the summit, is anticipated to have a lasting effect on those present.

This action comes after Assam already set a Guinness World Record for the biggest Bihu dancing performance.

The goal of Advantage Assam 2.0, the second iteration of the international investor summit since its 2018 launch, is to increase infrastructure development and investment in the state.

The two-day event is expected to draw investors from all around India and the world, solidifying Assam’s standing as a new investment destination in the country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Targeting Congress for trying to project a BJP bypoll candidate in Assam as a “Bangladeshi”, Chief Minister Himanta Sarma on Tuesday said questions can also be raised on the nationality of the Opposition party’s top leader Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Sarma asked why Bengali Hindus from Bangladesh who have long been residents of India, should face criticism for being a candidate in election.

The Congress, in its campaigning for the Dholai constituency in Barak Valley, has cast doubts about the citizenship of BJP candidate Nihar Ranjan Das, claiming that it was a BJP leader who first raised the allegation.

“If you (Congress) call Nihar Ranjan Bangladeshi, I will also call Sonia Gandhi Italian. If you think I am afraid of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, let me tell you I am not,” Mr Sarma said addressing a rally for Mr Das at Palonghat.

Sonia Gandhi who was born in Italy came to India in 1968 after her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi. She was granted Indian citizenship later.

The BJP leader maintained that Bengali Hindu residents of the present Barak Valley of Assam were dwellers of what is now Bangladesh, as it was the same country prior to Partition.

He blamed the Congress for creating the problems for Bengali-Hindus of Barak Valley, who had to move to present-day Assam following Partition of the country due to atrocities on religious minorities there.

“During the Lok Sabha election campaign, I had come here and said that we will resolve all problems of the Bengali Hindus. The government of India has already unblocked the Aadhar cards that were on hold. The state government has also issued orders that Bengali Hindus should not face any problems,” he said.

When all problems have started to vanish, the Congress is saying Mr Das is a Bangladeshi, he claimed.

“Nihar Ranjan and his family have all the documents to prove their Indian citizenship. However, Congress is trying to rake up the issue. They want to make the Hindu Bengalis in Barak valley suffer once again,” said Mr Sarma while replying to the Congress’ allegation.

The opposition party is not insulting Nihar Ranjan alone, but all Bengali Hindus, he underlined.

Mr Sarma also held the Congress responsible for the Partition of India in 1947.

“Had you not bifurcated Bharat, atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh would not have happened,” the chief minister stressed.

“Hindus are facing atrocities even now (in Bangladesh). We can see this on television and social media. But you (Congress) cannot raise these issues. Congress was formed to play only negative politics,” the Chief Minister added.

Taking a swipe at Congress poll performance, Mr Sarma advised the party to sit at home and get some rest.

“The Congress should sit at home and take rest. They won’t come to power for another 50 years,” Mr Sarma, who had been busy with assembly polls in Jharkhand as the BJP’s co-in-charge there, said.

By-elections are scheduled in five Assembly constituencies of the state on November 13.

Besides Dholai, the BJP has fielded candidates in Samaguri and Behali seats, while its allies AGP is contesting from Bongaigaon and UPPL from Sidli.

These by-polls were necessitated by the election of the incumbent MLAs to the Lok Sabha. Of these five seats, BJP and its allies held four, with Congress holding one.

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that he woul not let Bengali-speaking Muslims take over the state, underscoring that he is “not in the competition for minority votes”. Alleging that it was a communal statement, the Congress walked out of the state assembly, where Mr Sarma was speaking.

Speaking at Assam’s Legislative assembly on the Opposition’s adjournment motion on several key issues — including rape of minors and the targetting of Bengali Muslims in upper Assam’s Sivasagar district — Mr Sarma said, “I will take sides. What can you do? Will not let Miya Muslims take over Assam”.

“Let them (the Opposition) compete for minority votes. I am not in the competition,” the Chief Minister added.

The term ‘Miya’ refers to Muslims of Bengali origin, who are often accused of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Mr Sarma said Opposition leaders Rafikul Sahab and Debabrata Saikia have made an important statement. The two leaders had underscored that people will move from Lower Assam to upper Assam.

Questioning why that would happen, Mr Sarma said, “You Miya Muslims will take the entire lower Assam? We will not let you all to take the lower Assam, no never,” he added.

Mr Sarma’s remarks come two days after Opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi claimed that the BJP is trying to recreate the 2002 Gujarat episodes in Assam. His comments followed reports that some organisations have allegedly been threatening Muslims from Upper Assam, demanding that they leave the administrative division.

The Opposition All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has written to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, seeking action against unknown organisations and fundamentalist groups issuing threats to the Muslim community in Upper Assam.

Talking to reporters later, Opposition leader Debabrata Saikia said, “There are so many instances of failure of law and order — rape, dacoity, murder etc. We have given statistics about it. There have been more than 20 cases of murder and arson in just seven days in June,” he said.

Since the BJP rule started, there have been at least six cases of rape per day — which is more than the last 15 years Congress rule in Assam, he added.

“The Chief Minister is trying to say that a particular community was involved. There was assault on Indian citizens belonging to the minority community,” Mr Saikia said. “But statistics don’t say such thing. So we have asked for a discussion regarding the matter. But the Chief Minister is saying very communal thing. We have protested and walk out from the assembly,” Mr Saikia said.

Champai Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and veteran JMM leader, is set to join the BJP on Friday, announced Himanta Biswa Sarma in a late night post on X, hailing him as a “distinguished adivasi leader of the country”.

Last week, the 67-year-old leader, who had to quit as Chief Minister to make way for Hemant Soren upon his release from jail, accused party leadership of insulting him and announced that he would soon decide on his next political course.

Days after resigning, Mr Soren said he would have done more to develop the state had he had some more time.

The veteran leader – also known among party workers as the “Jharkhand Tiger” for his significant contribution to the struggle for creating Jharkhand state in the 1990s – said he would not quit politics, asserting that an option to float a new political outfit was always open to him.

Amid huge buzz about his big switcheroo, Mr Soren, two weeks ago, asserted “hum jahan par hain vahi par hain (I am where I am)”.  The same week, he arrived in Delhi, claiming he had come for personal work. 

However, the rumours refused to die down. The BJP too played coy, calling him a “senior leader” and “someone who was serving Jharkhand as a good Chief Minister”.

Earlier today, Mr Sarma, who is BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand that will go to the polls later this year, said “I want Champai Soren to join the BJP and strengthen us”.

The deal was finalised a few hours later. Mr Sarma posted a picture of Champai Soren meeting Amit Shah and announced the new inductee’s date of joining. 

“Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, @ChampaiSoren Ji met Hon’ble Union Home Minister  @AmitShah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the @BJP4India on 30th August in Ranchi,” posted Mr Sarma.

Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, @ChampaiSoren Ji met Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the @BJP4India on 30th August in Ranchi. pic.twitter.com/OOAhpgrvmu

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 26, 2024

Champai Soren had taken oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand on February 2 this year. He then resigned from the post of Chief Minister on July 3, a day before JMM executive president Hemant Soren took oath as the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand on July 4.

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma named Jharkhand and Bengal governments as the weak spots in the wall to stop Rohingya infiltration from Bangladesh. Both states, he said, have taken a soft stand against the infiltration, that is posing  threat to demography. In this context, he also mentioned Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comment that Bengal will “keep its doors open” — said in the context of the ongoing students’ protest in Bangladesh. “The Central government should pick up the issue of Rohingya with the West Bengal government,” he said.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Mr Sarma said, “Rohingya are utilising the India-Bangladesh border situation because large areas are porous. In Assam, we are still guarding, but Assam is only a part of the border”.

The Chief Minister cited a couple of instances of crackdown on illegal immigrants — one in Tripura where a large number of Rohingya have been arrested, and one in Assam, where the police busted a network last year..

“Assam is no longer a safe haven for illegal immigrants because after the BJP came into power, we have controlled the situation. But Bengal and Jharkhand are silent on the serious issue… (But elsewhere) Because of appeasement politics, we are not able to control it,” he said.

With unimpeded infiltration, the demography is already changing, he argued. This, he said, will become clear during census and will come as shocking news.

“You don’t have to wait for census. Just see the 2024 voter list and 2019 voter list — the change in demography is visible… Soft policy towards Rohingya infiltration doesn’t work. If we do not stop it, the entire country will face demographic invasion,” he added.

The removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the the tea town of Doomdooma in Assam had lead to a massive controversy with student leaders protesting the sudden removal. Two days ago, the 5.5 foot statue of Mahatma Gandhi, placed at the town’s Gandhi Chowk in Tinsukia district, was removed by an excavator, triggered widespread backlash. 

However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he was not aware of the decision to remove the statue. “I am not aware of this decision taken by the district administration. Let me verify the facts. Assam owes so much to Mahatma Gandhi. He stood firmly with Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi when the Congress party led by Nehru wanted to include Assam in Pakistan under the Grouping Plan,” he said.

The prominent All Assam Student Union (AASU) launched protests alleging that Gandhi’s statue was removed to build a clock tower. “When we met the municipal board and the town committee, they told us they have a plan to build clock tower but our question is why the civil society here was not taken into confidence before taking the decision to uproot the Gandhi statue?” said Pritam Neog, an AASU leader. 

Earlier, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, had attacked the BJP government in Assam over the statue’s removal. “Not surprising that the BJP Government in Assam decided to replace Bapu’s statue with a clock tower in Dibrugarh,” he said.

“We don’t oppose any city beautification project but it cannot be at the cost of Gandhi’s statue. We won’t allow it. They have to keep the statue and build a clock tower,” Congress leader and former MLA Durga Bhumij said.

Responding to concerns, BJP MLA from Doomdooma Rupesh Gowala said that a new statue was being created and would be placed at the original site within six months. The new state would be a foot taller and would be placed next to a clock tower. 

“Is it good for Doomdooma town to have a old broken statue of Gandhi ji? We removed it to replace with a taller and better statue and also to beautify the area around it but some people are trying to create a controversy and do politics over it,” he said.
 

Guwahati, Assam:

In a bid to end the ‘VIP culture’, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that ministers and government officials will have to pay for their electricity consumption.

“We are ending the VIP Culture rule of paying electricity bills of Government officials using tax payer money. Myself and the Chief Secretary will set an example and start paying our power bills from July 1 onwards. Beginning July 2024, all public servants will have to pay for their own electricity consumption,” Assam Chief Minister wrote in a post on X.

We are ending the #VIPCulture rule of paying electricity bills of Government officials using tax payer money.

Myself and the Chief Secretary will set an example and start paying our power bills from July 1 onwards.

Beginning July 2024, all public servants will have to pay… pic.twitter.com/kJMoYETQLJ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 16, 2024

Additionally, the chief minister emphasized the state’s commitment to energy conservation, explaining that they have launched a program to automatically disconnect electricity at all government offices, except for the Chief Minister Secretariat, Home, and Finance Departments, at 8 PM.

This initiative aims to reduce electricity consumption, and it has already been implemented in 8,000 government offices, schools, and other institutions throughout the state.

“Our aim is to gradually move all Govt establishments to solar power and we are exploring beginning this work from our Medical Colleges and Universities across the State,” Assam Chief Minister added.

The Assam Chief Minister launched the Janata Bhawan Solar Project during a ceremony at the state Secretariat Complex on Sunday. This initiative aims to further the state’s efforts in promoting renewable energy, featuring a 2.5-MW capacity grid-connected solar PV system installed on rooftops and ground surfaces.

This project would yield an average of 3 lakh units of electricity monthly and the investment amount of Rs 12.56 crore is projected to be recovered within 4 years, with monthly savings standing at about Rs. 30 lakh.

The launch of the solar power project today has led to the Assam Secretariat Complex becoming the first-ever civil secretariat in the country that relies entirely on solar-generated electricity for daily consumption.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Is this the code red moment in the national polls? Himanta Sarma appears to suggest so.

The Assam Chief Minister, a former Congress leader, has alleged that Rahul Gandhi, his former party boss, has been displaying the Chinese constitution at his poll rallies. Mr Sarma arrived at the conclusion based on the colour of the book – a deep red.

“The original copy of the Constitution of India has a blue cover. The original Chinese constitution has a red cover. Does Rahul carry a Chinese Constitution? We will need to verify,” Mr Sarma, 55, posted on X on Friday along with a picture of the Constitution, in what he calls the original blue cover, and a Rahul Gandhi picture with the red one.

Reacting to the Chief Minister’s post, several social media users said that the red-bound Constitution is a coat pocket edition, which has been presented to top Indian leaders, including the President, Prime Minister and the Union Home minister.

On Saturday, despite being called out on social media for the misleading post, the Chief Minister doubled down on his assertion.

“Rahul is displaying a red Chinese constitution to the people attending his meetings. Our constitution, in blue, includes a chapter called the Directive Principles of State Policy, which makes it a sacred duty to enact a Uniform Civil Code in our country; Rahul is now opposing this. That’s why I am sure that the constitution in his hand must be a Chinese one,” he said in a post today.

An MLA belonging to the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) party pointed to the “red gamcha” worn by the Chief Minister.

“There is no fixed colour of Indian constitution. The Chief Minister also wears a red gamcha, is it also from China? This is not a right post,” Hafiz Rafiqul Islam, MLA, AIUDF, told NDTV.

“Constitution has many colours but contents inside are same…We don’t read the colour but what is inside. Colour do not endorse any purpose,” said Congress MLA Abdul Rashid Mondal.

The latest controversy comes amid a raging debate around the constitution.

The Congress has been alleging that the BJP, which has set a mammoth “400 paar” target, plans to redo the constitution. The BJP however has maintained that no government can change the constitution.

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has put the Congress on alert – even before the Lok Sabha results are declared – warning his former party that several, if not all, of its winning candidates in the state will jump ship to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s side shortly after the election.

Mr Sarma’s jab at the Congress – his message to voters was that there is, therefore, no point in voting for the opposition party – came as he started his campaign from Assam’s Karimganj district.

“The question is whether a Congress candidate will remain in Congress or not. Now, no one wants to stay in Congress… everyone wants to join the BJP. This time, if I can bring all Congress candidates… then what will be the benefit of voting for Congress?” the Assam Chief Minister told reporters.

Mr Sarma laid credit for cross-overs at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feet, proclaiming, “PM is the Sun, and we are the Moon”, and claimed opposition leaders “are ours… if we call, they will join us”.

“Modiji will again become Prime Minister and there is no question about who is a ‘minority’ and ‘majority’. There will only be ‘sabka saath sabka vikas‘ (‘development with all, for all’, the BJP’s tagline). There is no opposition. They are ours and if we call, then they will join us,” he said.

The Assam leader made similar claims in November 2020; that was before the Assembly election in which the BJP-led alliance dominated, winning 75 of the state’s 126 seats. The BJP won 60 of 93.

“Before polls, people change political positions and there are a few good leaders still in the Congress in Assam. I have invited them to join the BJP. I am in touch with many of them…” he said then.

Mr Sarma himself joined the BJP from the Congress in 2015, after sharp swipes at party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. He was seen then as the mastermind of the Congress’ hat-trick of wins from 2001 to 2011, but fell out after being overlooked for the Chief Minister’s post.

ARCHIVES | In Assam, Congress’ Himanta Sarma Will Join BJP Soon

The 2024 election dates were announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday. Assam – which sends 14 MPs to the Lok Sabha – will vote in seven phases from April 19.

In 2019 the BJP contested 10 of those 14 and won nine. The saffron party’s allies – the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland People’s Front contested four but failed to win any.

Three were won by the Congress. The AIUDF and an independent lawmaker won one each.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.