Guwahati, 25 September( HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the BJP was not opposed to the Miya community but opposed practices such as child marriage and polygamy.

Speaking to media persons after attending a programme, Sarma said, “The BJP is not anti-Miya. The BJP is against child marriage and polygamy.” He also claimed that nationalist members of the Miya community would vote for the BJP in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.

The Chief Minister further said that if the Congress is defeated in Nagaon, the party would not return to power for the next 100 years.

Reacting to the demand by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign within 48 hours, Sarma questioned whether the CEC would resign merely because the organisation had asked him to do so. “At a time when some people do not even listen to their parents, will they listen to the CJP?” he said.

On the upcoming elections to the Mising Autonomous Council and Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, Sarma said candidates belonging to the BJP or other political parties would be allowed to contest. However, they would not be permitted to use their party names or election symbols.

The Chief Minister also attended the launch programme of the Assam government's Seva Sankalp campaign. The initiative was projected as a step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and is expected to benefit startups, innovators, researchers and students from across India.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash