Fresh rebellion in Assam Congress, BJP to stand by speaker

GUWAHATI: There is fresh rebellion in Assam Congress with move by a section of congress MLA to oust Speaker Pranab Gogoi. BJP has decided to lend support to beleaguered speaker in the event there is a confidence vote in the assembly.

Dissidence against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi which has died down is once again flaring up.

There is dissatisfaction among a section of Congressmen in the manner in which Speaker was treated by chief minister and Pradesh congress president, Anjan Dutta after he prepared a report endorsing the definition of indigenous people for “Assamese”.

Speaker after consultation with 50 organizations belonging to different ethnic groups gave a definition to Assamese, which was opposed by ruling congress and opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in the state assembly recently.

Clause 6 of Assam accord which was inked in 1985 provides for constitutional safeguard to Assamese. To implement this clause the government has sought definition of Assamese.

Already Speaker has met party president Sonia Gandhi. Pro-chief minister camp gas submitted a report to party high command. A section of congress MLAs has petitioned party president for replacing Tarun with Pranab.

Speaker has hinted that he will go as per the directive of party high command. Tarun Gogoi to have left it party high command to take a call on this issue.

A senior leader in congress said, “The manner in which Speaker was treated is nothing but minority appeasement. Action on speaker will be counter productive for the state is going to polls next year. It will difficult to remove Speaker for it will require two-third majority besides special session and written complaint by a good number of MLAs.”

Senior BJP leader, Prasanta Phukan said that party will support Speaker if non-confidence against the speaker is moved in the state assembly.