Guwahati: The Congress party delegation which went to Sonapur’s Kosutoli village following the clashes on Thursday where two people were killed and several injured was turned away.
The delegation had arrived to assess the situation and meet with local residents. However, a group of people stopped their vehicles before they could reach the site.
A group of residents chanted anti-Congress slogans and demanded that the delegation leave. Amid the protests, the Congress team was forced to retreat, unable to complete their visit.
Jakir Hussain Sikdar said they have come to assess the situation however those who blocked us are clearly aligned with the BJP. “The Congress is always ready to protect the people of the tribal belt. However, we will not tolerate violence under the guise of land evictions for tribal protection. Those who blocked us are clearly aligned with the BJP,” Sikdar claimed.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that fundamentalism has entered in the eviction drive in Sonapur’s Kosutoli and slogans raised in Bangladesh were used by the people here.
Sarma said that Congress party incited the people following which there was violence during the eviction drive on Thursday. Two people were killed and several injured in the clashes.
Sarma said, “Congress and other fundamentalist forces instigated the encroachers. They attacked the police. The slogan that was being used in Bangladesh; they are using the same slogan here now. After the action of Assam Police, the area has become peaceful again and the eviction work is going on.”
He added, “We are running a special campaign against the encroachers who have illegally occupied the land of the tribals in Sonapur, Assam. Yesterday, the Congress held a press conference and expressed sympathy for the intruders, after which the same intruders attacked the police.”
