Guwahati: Former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Bhupen Borah has sharply criticised the recent decision by the Assam Cabinet to introduce a state-specific arms licence policy, warning it could drag the state back to its violent past. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Borah expressed grave concerns, drawing parallels to a tumultuous era in Assam when gun violence instilled widespread fear.
Borah recounted chilling memories of a decade marked by unrest, stating, “We lived through a decade when even a single gunshot would keep us awake all night.” He further reminisced about his time as a Youth Congress leader, recalling how he stood by the deceased bodies of Benu Chetia from Margherita and Nagen Neog from Golaghat, grim reminders of the era’s brutality.
He also shared a personal experience from the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when genuine threats to his life necessitated the Assam Police providing him with a bulletproof vehicle, jacket, and helmet. “Back then, Assam was desperate to break free from the clutches of gun culture. Today, we are in a better place. That dark period no longer defines us,” Borah asserted, highlighting the state’s journey towards peace.
Borah underscored that arms licences are governed by national laws, not by state cabinet decisions. He pointed out his own experience of obtaining a licensed firearm after a credible threat to his life, a process that involved proper investigation and approval by the authorities.
Taking a jab at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Borah alleged that the state-level arms licence policy was an attempt to emulate the gun culture prevalent in the United States. “We don’t want a society where guns are treated like toys and even children are seen brandishing them,” he cautioned, expressing his apprehension about the potential consequences of such a policy.
Borah concluded by accusing the Chief Minister of engaging in “divisive politics,” warning that such measures could lead to societal polarisation and jeopardise public safety, potentially undoing the progress Assam has made in leaving its violent past behind.
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