GUWAHATI: Two leaders of Assam Congress were suspended from the party on Tuesday for participating in the Amrit Kalash Yatra, which was initiated by the BJP-led government in the state.
The two suspended Congress leaders are: Matia Block Congress Committee president Aynul Hoque Choudhury and Goalpara Mahila Congress president Afruza Begum.
On the other hand, Goalpara (West) MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal is also facing disciplinary action from the party high command for his participation in the programme. A meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of APCC will be held on Wednesday to discuss the issue, party sources here said.
“As per news aired on electronic media Goalpara East MLA, AK Rasheed Alam, Matia Block Congress president under Goalpara DCC Aynul Hoque Choudhury and Goalpara District Mahila Congress president Afruza Begum took part in the BJP government-sponsored political programme Amrit Kalash Yatra,” APCC general secretary Bipul Gogoi said in an order on Tuesday.
“Matia BCC president Aynul Hoque Choudhury and Goalpara District Mahila Congress president Afruza Begum are suspended from the Congress party with immediate effect,” the order also said.
“By taking part in this government-sponsored programme, you both have caused huge damage to the party and disillusioned lakh of party workers,” the order further said.
“At a time when the Assam chief minister has publicly called for burning 10 Janpath, the residence of MP and former AICC president Sonia Gandhi ji, the way Lanka was burnt;- questioned the DNA of our leader Rahul Gandhi ji, and at a time when BJP has – circulated highly objectionable picture calling Rahul Gandhi as the avatar of Ravan; – used all kinds of dirty tricks to remove him from the Lok Sabha and evict him from his government accommodation; – inflicted immense miseries on honest Congress leaders and their families, particularly the state president; by taking part in this government-sponsored programme, you both have caused huge damage to the party and disillusioned lakhs of party workers,” the order further said.
On the suspension order, MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal said: “I do not want to justify this suspension order. They were sincere workers of the Congress party. I will appeal the AICC and APCC to review the suspension order.”
“We have to obey the APCC order. But they can review the suspension order also,” Rashid said.
“For me, I never betrayed the party. If anybody can prove that I took part in the programme, I will quit the MLAship,” he added.
Meanwhile, Goalpara Mahila Congress president Afruza Begum said: “I have not received any direction from APCC on participation in Amrit Kalash Yatra. I went to the programme because it was my GP and I am the president of the GP. Moreover, I have not received any show cause notice from APCC for this.”
“I will appeal to president sir for reconsider of the suspension order,” Begum added.
