Controversy Unfolds as Assam CM Barred from Visiting Jharkhand Village

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has alleged that he was prevented by the Jharkhand government from visiting Gopinathpur village in Pakur district. This incident has sparked outrage among BJP members, with Leader of Opposition Amar Bauri calling it a 'black chapter in democracy'.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday claimed that the Jharkhand government obstructed his visit to Gopinathpur village in Pakur district.

Sarma, co-incharge of BJP's Jharkhand election campaign, is on a two-day tour of the state. He intended to visit Gopinathpur, where a recent clash had occurred around Muharram, according to a BJP legislator.

'The Jharkhand government has prevented me from going to Gopinathpur. If a Chief Minister cannot visit there, one can imagine the condition of the common people,' Sarma told reporters at Phulo Jhano Chowk in Dumka district while en route to Pakur.

Sarma is also scheduled to visit KKM College in Pakur, where a confrontation between tribal students and police on July 26 resulted in injuries to 15 people, including six police personnel. Additionally, he aims to assess areas where tribal land was allegedly encroached upon by Bangladeshi infiltrators in the district.

Leader of Opposition Amar Bauri raised the issue in the Assembly, stating that the Assam CM was barred from visiting Gopinathpur.

Bauri described the incident as a 'black chapter in democracy', noting that not only were 18 BJP MLAs suspended from the Assembly till 2 pm on Friday for raising public issues, but also a Chief Minister was restricted from connecting with the people.

(With inputs from agencies.)