Bongaigaon, January 27: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led Assam government, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday declared that a “Congress tsunami” is rising from Upper to Lower Assam and asserted that the next government in the state will be led by the Congress.
Addressing a Congress Mandal Convention at Abhayapuri in Bongaigaon, Gogoi alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the “most fearful political leader in the history of Assam” and survives politically by misusing the Home Department and the police administration. He claimed Sarma is haunted by the fear of losing power and would be the first to abandon the BJP once it begins to decline.
Taking a sharp dig at the BJP’s politics, Gogoi said, “BJP talks about Hindus, but under its rule cow-smuggling syndicates are flourishing. Cow, coal and betel-nut syndicates are thriving, and you cannot claim to be a Hindu leader while surviving on cow-smuggling money.” He went on to describe Himanta Biswa Sarma as the “Hindu Jinnah,” alleging that the Chief Minister’s politics is rooted in communal polarisation.
Gogoi said massive public participation in Congress programmes across Assam—from the hills to Upper, Middle and Lower Assam—clearly indicates an impending change of government. “Wherever we go, people are turning up in hundreds and thousands. This has already rattled the BJP, which has conceded several seats even before elections,” he said.
Referring to the recent Lok Sabha elections, Gogoi said despite the BJP deploying its entire Cabinet, repeated visits by the Prime Minister and large-scale use of money power, the people of Assam voted with self-respect. He expressed confidence that Congress would perform strongly in constituencies such as Dibrugarh, Kaziranga, Karbi Anglong and Lakhimpur.
Accusing the Chief Minister of opportunistic politics, Gogoi said Sarma has a history of switching parties whenever he senses danger. He challenged Sarma to publicly declare that he would remain in the BJP even if it loses power. Gogoi also alleged large-scale nepotism, claiming that government funds are being routed to companies linked to the Chief Minister’s family, while ordinary people face joblessness, school closures, evictions and harassment.
AICC observer Bandhu Tirkey, addressing the convention, urged the people of Assam to free themselves from what he termed BJP’s “corruption and syndicate rule.” Drawing parallels with Jharkhand, Tirkey said BJP’s politics of intimidation and hatred would be decisively defeated by the people.
MP Rakibul Hussain said the BJP is panicking over the spontaneous turnout at Congress rallies. “People attend BJP rallies only after being paid, but Congress meetings are drawing people voluntarily, even in the face of threats,” he said.
The convention was attended by AICC Secretary Prithviraj Sathe, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, former MP Abdul Khaleque, several MLAs and thousands of Congress workers and supporters.
- 13953 reads
Add new comment