PM Modi refused to meet me: Prafulla Kumar Mahanta

Guwahati: The two-time chief minister and signatory of the Assam accord Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to meet him when BJP government was in process of preparing the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, now converted into an act.

Asserting that there is no alternative for the present government, except not implementing the controversial act in Assam, former chief minister told reporters, “When I approached him to explain the fall out of this anti-Assam citizenship act, I was asked by Prime Minister’s Office to talk to Union home minister Amit Shah on this subject. It was not only highly disheartening but also reflected his attitude towards Assam.”

Mr Mahanta who consulted various legal experts of the country on the amendment in the citizenship act 1955 said that the controversial amendment in the act directly violates the basic structure of the constitution of India. It is to be noted that Mr Mahanta was the first political leader who brought the proposed amendment of the citizenship act into the focus in 2015.

Mr Mahanta who went against his party line to oppose the controversial act said that dictatorial attitude of the BJP leaders particularly on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act would cost them dearly in Assam.

Pointing out that he wanted to explain to the Prime Minister as to how this act is going to threaten the very existence of Assamese in Assam, Mr Mahanta also cited the Indian constitution which says India is a sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic republic nation so no action can be enacted by the parliament on religious line or with an intent to protect certain religious connotations have no place in the preamble.

Ignoring his individual criticism by Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mr Mahanta said that these criticism by a leader who keeps changing party with each new government are immaterial. “Our focus is to ensure that the C (A) A should not be implemented in Assam.”