Says People of Assam Don't Want to Offer Namaz on Streets, Apologises Nationally
Guwahati, April 4 – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep regret and issued an apology on Friday over comments made by an MP from the state during a recent Parliament debate on the Waqf Bill. Without directly naming him, Sarma was clearly referring to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who had criticised the government for allegedly restricting Muslims from offering Eid prayers on streets.Speaking at a press conference following a state cabinet meeting, Sarma said,
Sarma expressed embarrassment over the statements made in Parliament and said he was inundated with calls from across the country regarding the remarks.
No Community Demand to Pray on Roads, Says CM
The Chief Minister asserted that there has been no such demand from the Muslim community in Assam to offer prayers on public roads, countering the claims made during the debate.He also took issue with the way the MP portrayed the role of communities in India's independence movement. Sarma alleged that the speech gave the impression that only one community had contributed to the freedom struggle.
Confident About Upcoming Elections
When asked about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) performance in the upcoming local elections — including panchayat polls scheduled in two phases on May 2 and 7 — Sarma expressed optimism.He concluded by expressing disappointment over the MP’s comments and said the people of Assam would respond appropriately in due time.
