Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma banned from poll campaign over NIA threat to Congress

The Election Commission issued its order late Friday night, after it upheld a complaint by the opposition Congress.

In its complaint, the Congress party said Sarma had openly threatened to send Hagrama Mohilary, whose Bodoland People's Front (BPF) is a member of the opposition alliance, to jail by "misusing" the powers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The ban comes into effect from Friday night.

Sarma, who is the BJP's main poll strategist and has been listed as a 'star campaigner', can no longer campaign in this election as per the order.

On Thursday, the Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Sarma, to which they replied earlier on Friday. Unfortunately for him, the explanation was deemed "not satisfactory" by the poll body.

"... the Commission hereby strongly condemns the impugned statements made by Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP leader and star campaigner... bars him from holding any public meetings, processions, rallies, road shows, interviews and public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media, etc.) in connection with the ongoing elections for 48 hours from immediate effect," the Election Commission said in its Friday night order.

The comments that triggered Sarma's ban were made during a speech on March 28.

"If Hagrama Mohilary does extremism... he will go to jail. This is a straight talk... Already got a lot of evidence. This case is being given to NIA (National Investigation Agency). The recovery of arms at Kokrajhar in a car, that case is being given to NIA. Nobody will be allowed to do unrest in Bodoland Territorial Region, even if he is Hagrama..." he said.

Two days later, a Congress delegation met Election Commission officials to file a formal complaint. The party said Sarma's comment amounted to an open threat of jail for Mohilary.