Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has not challenged the Election Commission’s order in the Gauhati High Court, sources close to the senior BJP leader said Saturday afternoon.
Sarma was banned by the poll body on Friday from campaigning or speaking in public after a Congress delegation submitted a complaint against him for ‘openly threatening’ to send Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) chief Mohilary to jail by ‘misusing’ the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to the Congress party, Sarma also attempted to influence citizens against voting for the alliance led by Congress.
“The commission strongly condemns the impugned statements made by Sh. Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP leader and star campaigner,” the order issued by EC secretary Ajay Kumar Verma read.
“If Hagrama does extremism with Batha he will go to jail. This is a straight talk. If Hagrama encourages Batha, he will go to jail. Already got lot of evidence. This case is being given to NIA,” Biswa had said during a rally, as reported by news agency PTI.
However, Biswa, who is contesting Assam elections from the Jalukbari constituency, has denied the allegations levelled against him by Congress and said that his remarks were distorted which created a “confusion”. The EC, however, said it is not satisfied with the Assam Minister’s reply.
