Assam Congress has moved the Election Commission against BJP MLA Prasanta Phukan for allegedly spreading communal hatred.
The legal team of Assam Congress led by advocate Madhurjya Choudhury has submitted a memorandum to Nitin Khade, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam against sitting BJP MLA from Dibrugarh constituency Prasanta Phukan for allegedly spreading communal hatred.
The Assam Congress has alleged that Prasanta Phukan had spread communal hatred through his speech during a public meeting at Chabua on March 20.
The Assam Congress has sought immediate legal action against Prasanta Phukan for “spreading communal hatred”.
Prasanta Phukan, a three-time MLA, is contesting from the Dibrugarh constituency on a BJP ticket and is hoping for a fourth straight term in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
“Prasanta Phukan, MLA, Dibrugarh and a candidate of BJP contesting the current Assembly Election of Assam from Dibrugarh LAC, during a public meeting held by the BJP on March 20 at Chabua, had rendered an inflammatory speech spreading communal hatred in the society amongst the people of Assam on the ground of religion which has been circulated in various platforms of social media as well as news channels,” the Assam Congress stated in its memorandum to the Election Commission.
The Assam Congress alleged that Prasanta Phukan in his inflammatory speech at Chabua had said that if Grand Alliance wins the upcoming Assembly elections in the State, “Badruddin Ajmal will dictate the Muslim community to offer Namaz in the Naamghars (place where Assamese Hindus worship)”.
Prasanta Phukan in his speech had further stated that “if the people of Assam want that Muslims should be refrained from offering Namaz in the Naamghars, the people of Assam should cast their votes only in favour of BJP”.
The Assam Congress has condemned the inflammatory speech of Prasanta Phukan.
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The Assam Congress further stated that the speech of Prasanta Phukan is “in violation of Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct which specifically mandates that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggrevate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistics”.
“Such act of Prasanta Phukan also attracts the penal provisions of Section 125 of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 read with Section 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1980,” Congress leader and advocate Madhurjya Choudhury said.