Pradyut Bordoloi issues open challenge to Sonowal, Sarma

Tinsukia: Amid a raging war of words between the ruling BJP and key opposition to ‘save Assam’, Congress leader and former minister of Assam Pradyut Bordoloi issued an open challenge to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to hold an open debate on key issues of Assam.

“I challenge Himanta Biswa Sarma and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to hold a debate on civilization and culture, on what Assamese civilization and culture truly is. Apart from civilization and culture, there is a necessity for a debate on the present fundamental issues and their complete failure,” Bordoloi said.

Bordoloi tweeted on Wednesday: “I invite our Chief Minister @sarbanandsonwal and minister @himantabiswa for a public debate on ‘অসমীয়া সভ্যতা-সংস্কৃতি vs নাগপুৰীয়া অপসংস্কৃতি’ and other key issues relating to the state; to be moderated by a neutral person and telecast by all news channels in the state.”

“A debate on job creation and unemployment is the need of the hour,” Bordoloi said and added “Have they succeeded in controlling inflation or not. A debate is required. A debate on floods is required.”

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Bordoloi said, they have called the NRC faulty and have destroyed Assam Accord on the other side. The base date March 25, 1971, of the Assam Accord, has been compromised and destroyed by bringing in the CAA. “A public debate is required on Assam Accord vis-a-vis CAA and clause 6A of Assam accord.”

“In the capacity of the chairman of Congress election campaign committee, I challenge them for an open debate during this assembly elections,” Bordoloi added.

The development, 48-hours ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections, assumes significance as the voters will come to know which party stands where amid their tall claims and promises.

The Congress is going into polls with 5 guarantees, while the ruling BJP is banking on their development plank, calling Congress guarantees a bunch of lies.

On March 27, 47 seats of 126 assembly seats, mostly from Upper Assam, are going to polls in the first phase.