The Assam Congress has sought disqualification of minister Pijush Hazarika’s candidature from the state assembly elections for his alleged threat to a Guwahati-based television journalist.
On April 1, state Congress president Ripun Bora wrote a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam demanding action against the BJP leader.
In a viral audio clip on April 1, minister and BJP candidate from Jagiroad constituency, Pijush Hazarika was allegedly heard threatening a television journalist for airing a story.
“Pijush Hazarika, present MLA and a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party…has found to have threatened a reporter…of the news channel ‘Pratidin Time’ with dire consequences for showing a video of his wife Aimee Baruah, recorded during her election campaign in Jagiroad in the news channel which has gone viral in the social media during the last few days,” the state Congress president wrote.
“The incident took place today (April 1) where in a viral call recording between Pijush Hazarika and the journalist, it is found that Hazarika using unparliamentary words threatened the journalist with dire consequences,” Bora added.
“He also warned the journalist allegedly for doing ‘Miya Politics’ to support Congress and ‘Ajmal Party’ and threatened him that he will spoil his life,” the letter further said.
Bora added that the incident has put the general public and the voters of Assam “in a serious threat”.
“The said incident has clearly put the democracy of our state under serious threat and the common public and the voters of our state are now under want of protection from such threat,” Bora wrote in the letter to the CEO, a copy of which was also addressed to the Election Commission.
“That apart, the words ‘Miya Politics’, ‘Ajmal Party’ etc. uttered by Pijush Hazarika in the said call has directly aggravated the existing differences between the communities of the state and has created mutual hatred between them which has clearly violated the Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates as well as the provisions of Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 & Section 171 C of the Indian Penal Code, 1860,” the letter noted.
Bora further added that “prompt and necessary action” should be taken against Pijush Hazarika, including disqualification of his candidature and directions to file FIR against him.
