Darrang: Sonai MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya “Requests CM” for CBI enquiry; Tweet raises eyebrows

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and its supremo Badaruddin Ajmal have come under immense criticism as one of the leading opposition parties in Assam’s assembly often gets busy praising the government instead of questioning it on behalf of the electors.

In fact, the working president of Assam Pradesh Congress and North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha went on to say that AIUDF is not fulfilling its duties as an opposition party and that is why Congress decided to come out of the pre-poll alliance. AIUDF MLAs relied heavily on Muslim votes to win the election. However, after winning it seems they have started to betray their voters. The AIUDF remained silent when Mizoram Forces opened fire within Assam in Lailapur – Cachar and the Mizo lawmakers called the local residents “Bangladeshi”. The locals have their names enrolled in the draft of the National Register of Citizens and hold a voter id card. In fact, they voted in the recently concluded Assembly elections and yet they are being racially profiled because of the language they speak and the clothes they wear.

The AIUDF MLAs, instead of questioning the government went on to say that the “Dynamic Chief Minister of Assam will find an amicable solution to the problem and not let an inch of Assam land slip away.” The post where six Assam Police personnel were shot dead and 43 were injured still remain under the custody of Mizoram forces.

Similarly, when the Assam government tabled the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, the AIUDF remained muted. Yesterday, in Dholpur Gorukhuti village of Darrang district where the administration is conducting an eviction drive, the Police opened fire leaving two dead. The Police said personnel were attacked by the local public with stones and sticks and so, they had to fire. A barbaric video has gone viral on social media which shows Police shooting unarmed civilians and a photographer jumping on a man lying dead on the ground.

The DGP of Assam Police, Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta rushed to the spot, “Currently in Sipajhar, taking stock of the ground situation. The cameraman who was seen attacking an injured man in a viral video has been arrested,” he tweeted in the evening. His tweet added, “As per the wish of Honourable chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, I have asked CID to investigate the matter.”

He also informed that a cameraman who was smashing and jumping on a dead body has been identified as Bijoy Bonia is in Assam CID’s custody.

Moments after DGP’s tweet, Sonai MLA Karimuddin Barbhuiya who is also the general secretary of AIUDF’s Central Committee, tweeted, “Thanks for the action against Bijay Shankar Bania, the photographer who was seen jumping on the unconscious person in Dhalpur, and arresting him.” Despite being in the opposition, Karimuddin Barbhuiya is “Thanking” the Police that opened fire at civilians for arresting a camera person who is being compared with Hyena if not worse as he smashes and jumps on a dead body with bullet marks on the chest.

If Sonai MLA’s tweet thus far is astonishing, what follows is bizarre. “I further request CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to hand over the enquiry of today’s incident to CBI.” Opposition demands, questions and criticises the government. Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley did so for years when BJP was in the opposition. BJP demanded Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s resignation after scams broke in the UPA regime that AIUDF was a part of. After Police opens fire on civilians when being in opposition, Karimuddin Barbhuiya “requests CM” and “thanks” god knows whom, it becomes clear that he is trying to appease and impress the chief minister who himself ordered a probe and refrained from thanking anyone.

This also explains why Cachar BJP recently held a press conference to question Karimuddin Barbhuiya’s close proximity to the ruling party. This tweet is ought to raise more eyebrows.