By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : The new controversy in the state seems to be over the fact that whether the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill issue was raised by the AGP Ministers during the recent cabinet meeting of Assam government or not. Things took an interesting turn on Saturday after AGP minister and party president, Atul Bora, facing condemnation across the

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the first cabinet meeting after formation of new government in the state in Guwahati, on May 25, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

state for not raising the issue in the Cabinet meeting, took a complete U-turn by saying that the issue was raised in the cabinet meeting for almost half-an-hour. Earlier the same minister had stated that the issue was not raised in the cabinet meeting as the CM himself requested them not to do so in a separate meeting with the three AGP ministers further assuring them that the state government won’t take ant step that will go against ther interests of the people. Citing the reason for the secrecy to be a request of the CM and also AGP’s resolution to stand by the rules of maintaining cabinet secrecy, Atul Bora further admitted that the whole thing led to a confusing situation and harmed the party’s image in the state at this crucial point of time. Despite objections from many other members of the Cabinet, the issue was brought up and we had discussed it for almost an hour, Bora said. Transport and Industry Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary’s statements before media immediately after the Cabinet meeting that the issue was not raised in the meeting at all, led to a confusing situation, further alleged the AGP president. “We wanted to maintain Cabinet secrecy but because of all the misunderstanding and controversy over the issue, we thought it will be better if we clarify our stand,” Bora said. Meanwhile, BJP Minister Parimal Suklabaidya has stated that AGP ministers didn’t raise anything related to the Citizenship Amendment Bill issue. “Forget about bringing up a cabinet notification, they didn’t even raise the issue,” he reportedly said to media persons. Another BJP Minister Siddartha Bhattacharya said that political things are not discussed in cabinet meetings and cabinet ministers are not representing any party but the government during these meetings. It is to be noted that BJP-AGP alliance is going through a troubled phase over the Citizenship Amendment Bill issue with the latter threatening to exit from the government if the Bill is passed. Earlier, people and organizations across the state had reacted adversely when it was reported that AGP ministers didn’t raise the Citizenship Amendment Bill issue in the cabinet meeting as promised earlier.