"Not Pakistan Zindabad, supporters raised Aziz Khan Zindabad slogan," AIUDF general secretary

A video has surfaced where “Pakistan Zindabad” type slogans are heard. In the video, it appears that while All India United Democratic Front supremo Badaruddin Ajmal is walking out of the Silchar Airport in Kumbirgram, his supporters are raising slogans that sound like ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.

The member of the Indian Parliament from Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency reached Silchar yesterday for a four-day visit in Barak Valley. After arrival, he announced that the AIUDF will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in alliance with the Congress. “I am in touch with Rahul Gandhi and we will stitch a Mahagathbandhan,” said Ajmal.

He made an astronomical claim that out of the 15 seats in Barak Valley, the alliance will win 12. However, within 24 hours of his arrival, the viral video has posed a cloud of uncertainty over the alliance. Will Congress shake hands with a party whose supporters raise Pakistan Zindabad slogans that too in the airport.

Meanwhile, AIUDF has called for a damage control press conference in Silchar. AIUDF General Secretary,  Aminul Islam alleged that this is a conspiracy from the government. Though the audio resembles Pakistan Zindabad, Aminul Islam explains, “There were a lot of political personalities yesterday and the supporters were raising Zindabad slogans. They had raised Badaruddin Ajmal Zindabad Slogans. When the supporters raised Aziz Khan Zindabad, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s channel News Live made news out of it stating that Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised in Silchar.”

He went on to allege that Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP government is rattled by the alliance between Congress and AIUDF which according to Ajmal, “is certain to defeat” BJP in the upcoming elections. “Our workers will never raise Pakistan Zindabad slogans. We are Indians and BJP’s conspiracy does not rattle us,” said Aminul Islam. Adding, “The video is distorted. There CISF deployed, police deployed, don’t you think they would have taken action against such slogans. We want a fair enquiry of the matter and we assure full cooperation.”

For the records, Aziz Ahmed Khan is the MLA from South Karimganj constituency.

Raising Pakistan Zindabad slogans might amount to sedition and the Cachar SP said he is investigating the matter. “We are verifying the authenticity of the video, as well as the content that features in that video,” said SP Bhanwar Lal Meena.

Meanwhile, Himanta Biswa Sarma took on Twitter to take a jibe at the AIUDF and its alliance with Congress. The NEDA chief posted, “Look at the brazenness of these fundamentalists anti-national people who are shouting PAKISTAN ZINDABAD while they welcome MP Badaruddin Ajmal.”

Sarma added, “This thoroughly exposes Indian National Congress, which is encouraging such forces by forging an alliance. We shall fight them tooth & nail. Jai Hind.”

If this is the warmup to the next elections, then the match is certainly going to be a high decibel one.