Congress-BJP target each other on 'secret deal' with AIUDF

BJP offering Ajmal Rs 150 crore to split Muslim votes, says Dutta; AIUDF threatens defamation suit

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 28: The Congress on Saturday denied charges by the BJP that it is hobnobbing with the AIUDF, and instead accused the BJP of offering Rs 150 crore to Badruddin Ajmal to split Muslim votes in the upcoming assembly elections.

The AIUDF was, however, quick to react, threatening a defamation suit if the Congress failed to prove the allegations within 24 hours.

Yesterday, BJP president Amit Shah had alleged that the Congress had entered into a "tacit understanding" with the AIUDF, while Union minister Sarbanda Sonowal had said that Badruddin Ajmal has been offered the post of Deputy Chief Minister by the ruling party.

Describing the BJP charges as a "misinformation campaign", State Congress president Anjan Dutta on Saturday ruled out any pre-poll tie-up with the AIUDF.

"If fact, it is the BJP which is holding secret discussions with the AIUDF. I have heard that the BJP has offered Rs 150 crore to the AIUDF. The BJP wants the AIUDF to put up candidates in all the 126 constituencies for which it has assured Rs 1 crore for each contestant," Dutta said, adding that the Congress "is strong enough to fight the elections in all the constituencies on its own."

"When the BJP can have a tie-up with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kashmir why can't it have a similar alliance with the AIUDF here?" asked the Congress president, accusing the BJP of trying to split Muslim votes in the State.

Taking a jibe at Sarbanda Sonowal, the APCC president wanted to know from the Union minister, who had yesterday accused the State government of indulging in corruption, if the Education and Health departments were also plagued by malpractices. "Let him say if these two departments are corrupt. If there is corruption in these two departments, why did they rope in a person who headed these two departments for years?" Dutta said.

The Congress also wanted Sonowal to come clean on the policy of the NITI-Aayog which has not yet fixed the plan allocation for the State.

"Amit Shah had yesterday said that the infrastructure in Assam is pathetic. But India Today has recently awarded the State for its performance in infrastructure development… the award was given by Union Minister Rajth Singh. Now, whom should the people believe?", asked the Congress president.