Congress Working Committee member and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday sought a white paper from the government on issues related to Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the move triggered by the differing claims of government representatives on the number of those likely to benefit from the legislation.
The veteran Congress leader raised the demand during a news conference here on Tuesday afternoon where he went hammer and tongs against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for pushing the “divisive” legislation and “disrespecting” Assamese sentiments against the legislation.
“Sarma is saying only five lakh people will benefit while Sonowal is saying the final figure will be much less. Since government representatives are quoting different figures, we want to know what is the exact figure and what is its basis. Therefore, we want the government to table a white paper on the figures, the unfolding situation as they are blaming us for the violent protests,” Gogoi said.
Sarma on Monday said only about 5.42 lakh people based on NRC data will benefit from the law, not 1.5 crore as highlighted by a section of protesters. A few days ago the chief minister said number of beneficiaries would be much less.
Sarma did not go into details of the beneficiaries; he said he was instructed to concentrate on the prevailing situation.
Targetting Modi, Gogoi said the Prime Minister was allegedly following in Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s footsteps. “Modi has no faith in democracy. He says the act is 1,000 per cent is correct despite the widespread protests. He is a Jinnah bhakt, who created Pakistan for Muslims. Modi is gradually turning India into a Hindu rashtra,” he said, adding that Modi nowadays sees the Congress in his dreams while reacting to Modi’s charge at a public rally in Jharkhand that the Congress and its allies were behind the CAA protests, instigating protesters.
While seeking action against those involved in vandalism, Gogoi also accused Sarma of trying to derail the peaceful movement against the law which is being challenged in the Supreme Court by the AASU, AJYCP, Congress leaders, among others.
“He has been given the responsibility of derailing the movement. He is the one responsible for the mess by his inciting remarks. Only yesterday (at Monday’s press meet) he appeared mellowed but still tried to divide the protesters by pitching lower Assam against Upper, Hindus against Muslims. We need be careful from him. He is trying to polarise society. He should be booked for spreading hatred,” he said.
In what appeared to be an attempt to convey that the government is rudderless, Gogoi questioned why Sarma had to address Monday’s news conference on the prevailing situation when the chief minister is the home minister.