PM’s chair losing ‘dignity’ under Modi: Former MP

‘The irony, however, is that at a time when the security cover of the Congress leaders has been withdrawn, a number of top retired police officers have been getting around 40 personnel – on duties as security personnel, cooks, orderlies and what not. Isn’t it misuse of security personnel?’

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 10: Congress’ former Rajya Sabha MP Dwijen Sarma has said that the ‘chair’ of the Prime Minister of India is losing its ‘dignity’ ever since BJP leader rendra Modi sat on it.

Addressing the media in the city today, Sarma reacted sharply to the statement made by Modi against his predecessor – Dr. Manmohan Singh – recently. Modi had said: “Bathroom mein raincoat pehen kar ke ha, yeh kala to Doctor Saab hi jaante hain aur koi hin jaanta hai (Only Dr Saab knows the art of bathing while wearing a raincoat in the bathroom).”

Sarma said: “The chair of the Prime Minister of India has a dignity of its own. It’s respected by all; no matter who sits on it. However, even since BJP leader rendra Modi sat on it, the chair is losing its dignity. His attitude towards the Opposition is vindictive and arrogant. BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also the Prime Minister of India. He, however, had no such attitudes.  He did pay due respect to the Opposition leaders.”

Sarma condemned Prime Minister rendra Modi for his comment against his predecessor. “The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) is soon going to register its protest against the statement made by Modi against Dr. Singh,” he said.

Turning his attention to the activities of the State Government, the senior Congress leader said: “Soon after coming to power, the BJP-led coalition government in the State has withdrawn the security cover of the Congress leaders. This is despite the fact that many Congress leaders in the State are under security threat. The irony, however, is that at a time when the security cover of the Congress leaders has been withdrawn, a number of retired top police officers have been getting around 40 personnel – on duties as security personnel, cooks, orderlies and what not. Isn’t it misuse of security personnel? The security review committee in the State is headed by the Additiol Secretary (Home). We’ve approached him on the issue of exposing the Congress leaders to security threat by withdrawing their security cover. It’s unfortute that the move failed to yield anything positive. We’ve even moved the Governor on this issue, but to no avail. It’s unfortute and vindictive as well.”    

On the hike in land revenue in the State, the former Congress MP said: “Even though the decision for hiking land revenue was taken during the Congress regime, the time is not ripe for such a hike now. In post-demonetization, the farmers are the worst affected by the hike. We demand of Dispur to rollback the land revenue hike so as to give the farmers of the State a respite.”