While State Congress leader Debabrata Saikia demanded the resignation of Assam minister Pijush Hazarika, Jorhat-based journalists staged protest on Friday against the minister for allegedly threatening a journalist of a news channel.
Assam Congress Legislature Party (ACLP) leader Debabrata Saikia on Friday demanded that minister Hazarika, who is contesting from Jagiroad Assembly constituency, should resign immediately for threatening a journalist over the phone and making communal comments.
Also read: Gauhati Press Club slams Assam minister Pijush Hazarika for “threatening” TV journalist
Pijush Hazarika is a BJP candidate for the Jagiroad Assembly constituency.
Jagiroad Assembly constituency went to polls on April 1 in the second phase of the Assam Assembly election 2021.
Also read: Assam: BJP ‘downplays’ minister Pijush Hazarika’s threat to journalist with consequences
Congress leader Saikia urged the Election Commission to take appropriate action against Hazarika because the menaces and communal remarks made by him violated Sub-clause (iii) (B) of Clause 4.2 of the EC’s Model Code of Conduct, as also Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
Also read: Assam: Protest against BJP leader Pijush Hazarika for threatening journalists
Saikia termed the action on the part of the Assam minister of state for health as unbecoming of a person, who is holding a constitutional post.
Saikia pointed out that Hazarika took oath of the Constitution to treat every citizen equally and ensure justice for all, but now he has broken that oath by resorting to blatant threats and communally-divisive comments.
Also read: Journalists Union of Assam condemns minister Pijush Hazarika for ‘threatening’ scribe
Meanwhile, the journalists of Jorhat staged protest on Friday in front of the office of Jorhat deputy commissioner at the initiative of the Jorhat District E-Media Union in coordination with the Jorhat District Journalists’ Union against the minister for threatening a journalist of a news channel.