Himanta Biswa Sarma addressing the rally in Siwan (ANI)
NEW DELHI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday targeted RJD candidate Osama Shahab – son of late gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin – at an election rally in Bihar’s Siwan district, drawing a controversial comparison between him and terrorist Osama Bin Laden.Addressing a public meeting in the Raghunathpur assembly segment, Sarma said, “Before I came to Raghunathpur, I thought I would see Lord Ram, Lord Lakshman and Goddess Sita, but I was told that there are many Ram, Laxman and Sita here and there is also Osama. So I asked, who is Osama? This Osama is like the earlier Osama Bin Laden. We have to ensure the elimination of all Osama Bin Ladens in the state. What was Osama’s father’s name? He was called Shahabuddin…” The BJP leader also claimed that Osama Shahab’s electoral win would amount to a setback for Hindus. “If such an Osama wins from Raghunathpur, it will be a defeat for Hindus. I shall myself be watching the results of this constituency on November 14, sitting at the gates of Kamakhya temple in Assam. I am sure you people will reject Osama just as you had defeated his mother in Lok Sabha polls,” Sarma said, referring to Hina Shahab, widow of Mohammad Shahabuddin, who had contested the parliamentary election as an Independent. Osama Shahab, 31, is contesting from Raghunathpur on a Rashtriya Janata Dal ticket, making his political debut from what is considered his father’s stronghold. The Janata Dal (United) has fielded Vikash Kumar Singh from the seat, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj has nominated Rahul Kirti. Osama faces several criminal cases, mostly under the Arms Act, 1959.Continuing his attack, Sarma also touched on issues from his home state, saying that as Assam’s chief minister he had worked to “free 50,000 acres of land from infiltrators” and stopped government funding for madrasa teachers. “The infiltrators also pose a threat to our womenfolk. The Congress had been footing the bill for the salaries of teachers at Madrasas. I put an end to it, making it clear the government is supposed to train doctors and engineers, and not mullahs,” he said.He further claimed he would soon bring a law in Assam to punish men marrying multiple times. “Later this month, I am also going to bring a law that would send to jail those who marry three to four times. I am going to shut down this shop,” he told the gathering.Appealing for support to the NDA, Sarma urged voters to back CM Nitish Kumar and reject the “Tejashwi-Osama duo.” He said, “Awakened Hindus defeated the legacy of Babur and Aurangzeb in Ayodhya, where a temple of Lord Ram stands. They will again beat Osama.”The upcoming Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled for November 14. The contest is primarily between the ruling NDA – comprising BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha – and the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, which includes Congress, CPI(ML), CPI, CPM and the Vikasheel Insaan Party.(With inputs from agencies) Go to Source