The state BJP held a “peace rally” in Upper Assam’s Dhemaji district on Wednesday where it aggressively pushed its development plank and attacked protesters against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, even claiming that 90 per cent Congress legislators are Bangladeshis.

The attack on the Congress was seen as an attempt to project it as a protector of illegal migrants, notwithstanding its vehement opposition to CAA, which will provide citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from three neighbouring countries.

The peace rally was held amid a nationwide strike called by various trade unions, which paralysed life in Assam, but a large number of buses and other vehicles bearing flags of BJP and Ganashakti, one of its allies, carried party supporters and members to the venue.

Senior cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke about the schemes the state government had implemented and will implement soon, that the anti-CAA protests are being organised based on wrong facts and how the demographic pattern of the state was changing fast.

He said the BJP along with its alliance partners will surely retain power in 2021. “Do you believe me or not? Will the BJP come to power in 2021 or not? Will we get 100 seats or not?” Sarma said exhorting people to clap with his words.

He said he had participated in numerous rallies and meetings during his life in Dhemaji but had never seen a mass gathering like on Wednesday. “Had trees and electric posts not been thrown on the roads, all people from Dhemaji district would have been here today,” he said.

Anti-CAA protesters reportedly tried to prevent BJP workers and supporters from attending the meeting by felling trees on the roads.

Taking a dig at the organisations heading the anti-CAA protests, Sarma said, “Those who had been living on donation, should pull down shutters on their shops. The participation of people in the meeting clearly indicates the BJP and its alliance partners will form the government in 2021.”

Sarma claimed that the BJP was successful in building a bridge with indigenous communities and asked intellectuals opposing CAA, “Why are indigenous communities not joining the protest? Why are there no protests in Kokrajhar or Diphu or Haflong?”

The Act excludes BTAD and three hill districts in Assam in addition to northeastern states with inner-line permit.

Sarma claimed that 90 per cent of Congress legislators are Bangladeshis. “They may be citizens now but their forefathers were Muslims who migrated from Bangladesh,” he said.

He said the constituencies which were earlier represented by former chief ministers like Mahendra Mohan Choudhury (Barpeta) and Sarat Chandra Sinha (Dhubri) had slipped out of the hands of indigenous people.

“We lost even Naoboicha constituency which was once represented by Bhupen Hazarika,” he said. Naoboicha is now represented by AIUDF’s Mamun Imdadul Haque Chawdhury.

“Those who understand Assam will know that the only problem in Assam are the Bangladeshi Muslims,” Sarma said.

PCC vice-president and chairman of its media cell, Bhagirath Karan said, “How can it be 90 per cent? We have 24 MLAs, of whom 14 are Muslims. They belonged to families who migrated to Assam before 1947 when present Bangladesh was part of India. By making such a statement, the BJP is trying to divide people on religious lines.” said.