Assam BJP MLA lands in soup

GUWAHATI| AUGUST 10, 2020

Assam BJP MLA Shiladitya Dev comments over revered scholar Syed Abdul Malik terming him as an "intellectual jihadi" has stirred the hornet's nest in Assam.

The Congress has called Dev a "mad person" who should be sent to a "mental asylum" for his frequent controversial and communally-sensitive statements. The minority department lodged a complaint at Hatigaon police station in Guwahati on Sunday demanding the arrest of the legislator.

BJP leader and Assam Minority Development Board Chairman Muminul Aowal condemned the statement and demanded a public apology from his party colleague.

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi strongly condemned Dev's derogatory remarks against Malik, a highly-respected poet, novelist and short story writer.

Dev made the remarks while commenting on the recent communal clash in Sonitpur district on the day of the foundation stone-laying of Ram temple.