UOFA Demands Dismissal of Assam CM Over Alleged Misconduct

The United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), led by key opposition figures, has demanded the dismissal of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, citing failures in law and order and incitement of communal division. Allegations include provocative statements, police encounter deaths, and widespread corruption involving the Chief Minister and his family.

A delegation of the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) on Thursday submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu demanding the dismissal of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly failing to maintain law and order and inciting division among communities through his statements.

The opposition parties, led by Congress Lok Sabha MP Pardyut Bordoloi and the forum's general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, submitted the memorandum to the President through Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Raj Bhavan here.

According to the opposition's allegations, CM Sarma has made a series of provocative statements targeting the Muslim community, including on the assembly floor. They claimed that about a year ago, Sarma incited youths to expel religious minorities from Guwahati. The Gauhati High Court reprimanded the state government for demolishing houses of Muslim families in Batadrava, ordering compensation.

Further, the opposition charged that Sarma attempted to incite communal tension following a rape incident in Nagaon district, which led to attacks on religious minorities in Sivasagar by BJP members. They also highlighted that Assam has the highest number of encounter deaths according to a Centre report, with frequent occurrences of murder, rape, and dacoity under Sarma's rule.

On Independence Day, UOFA noted, ULFA(I) planted bombs at multiple locations, with police learning of it only after the group revealed the threat via email. They also highlighted 17,657 rape cases during BJP rule from 2016-2023, with 580 new cases in the last seven months.

The opposition accused the Chief Minister and his family of unprecedented corruption, citing media reports of illegal properties. They asserted that CM Sarma has compromised his oath, violated the Constitution, and failed to provide citizen security.

Besides Bordoloi and Gogoi, the memorandum was signed by state Congress president Bhupen Borah, opposition leader Debabrata Saikia, MP Rakibul Hussain, CPI(M)'s Isfaqur Rahman, Raijor Dal's Russel Dal, and others.

(With inputs from agencies.)