The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday described BJP president Amit Shah’s remarks on the citizenship bill as “a political gimmick to woo voters” ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and urged the people of Assam not to vote for the BJP.
Former Dibrugarh University Students’ Union president and AASU member Partha Pratim Bezbaruah joined the LDP here on Monday.
LDP chairman Prodyut Bora said at a news conference here: “The BJP president in a public gathering on Sunday said if the BJP is voted to power, then it will try to bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, again to protect the indigenous communities of Assam. The BJP-led government always plays with the emotions of the Assamese people to gain votes. But they are not able get votes here without the help of parties like the AGP and student unions like AASU. The present situation of the AGP to protect the interest of the people is questionable.
“There is an urgent need for a party like the LDP, which is formed on the grounds of regional interests. It is the party which can protect the interests of the people of Assam. Assam voted for the BJP only as an alternative to the Congress. There is a need for a third option apart from the BJP and the Congress in the state now,” Bora said.
“Those who were students’ leaders at the time of Assam Agitation are now becoming ministers and MPs for political power. But leaders like Partha Pratim Bezbaruah, who once played an important role in Assam Agitation, have been working for the indigenous communities. He has joined our party and we shall together build a strong democratic party in the state,” LDP general secretary Guno Gogoi said. The LDP and the Asom Sangrami Mancha coalition had formed the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) last year. Another regional party will join the RDA on Tuesday, Gogoi said.
“I apologise in front of the people of Assam for helping the BJP garner votes in the 2016 Assembly election,” Bezbaruah said.
LDP general secretary Jinti Gogoi and Liberal Students’ Union general secretary Abid Ahmed were also present.