GUWAHATI, April 5: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday mounted a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of corruption and divisive politics, while asserting that the people of the state would hold him accountable.
Addressing a public rally in Assam’s Biswanath district, Rahul Gandhi alleged: “Himanta Biswa Sarma is the most corrupt and the most communal Chief Minister in the country. He has betrayed and misled the people of Assam — the evidence is before the public.”
He further claimed that the people of Assam would not forgive what he described as corruption under the present regime, adding: “The people of Assam will never forgive his corruption — punishment is certain.”
In his address, the Congress leader also invoked the legacy of noted Assamese musician and icon Zubeen Garg, drawing a parallel between the artiste’s life and the ideological position of the Congress party.
Rahul Gandhi said Garg had devoted his life to uniting people across communities and regions, and never engaged in divisive behaviour.
“Zubeen Garg worked his entire life to unite people of Assam. He never misbehaved with anyone. The Congress philosophy is also like that — to spread love against hatred,” Rahul Gandhi said, presenting his party’s vision as one rooted in harmony and inclusiveness.
He accused the BJP-led government in Assam of fostering divisions among communities for political gains, arguing that such an approach runs contrary to the cultural ethos of the state. According to Gandhi, Assam’s identity has historically been shaped by coexistence and mutual respect, values he said are being undermined.
Stepping up his attack, Rahul Gandhi warned of legal consequences for the Chief Minister if the Congress comes to power in the state.
“Let him speak for some more days. After that, the Congress will form a government in Assam and legal action will follow even if he asks for forgiveness,” he said.
Additionally, Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday evening asked the Assam CM to answer three questions on whether his family has properties and companies abroad.
The questions were asked in a press conference here, hours after Sarma said that he and his wife would file a defamation case against Khera within 48 hours for making “false allegations” that she has multiple passports and holds properties in Dubai, which were not mentioned in his poll affidavit.
Khera had made those accusations in a presser in New Delhi earlier on Sunday, just four days before the state goes to polls on April 9.
Addressing a press conference here in the evening, the Congress leaders posed three questions to the Assam CM: whether his wife or family owns property in Dubai, has companies in Wyoming in the USA, or has placed their assets in shell companies.
Gogoi and Khera demanded that Sarma provide an affidavit to the Election Commission of India regarding his wife’s alleged property in Dubai, the company in Wyoming and assets held in shell companies.
“These details are missing in the affidavit submitted to the ECI, and his nomination is a fit case for disqualification,” he said.
The party also demanded that the Centre form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the allegations — multiple passports, undisclosed foreign assets, and the source of funds in foreign entities. (Agencies)
