The political landscape in Assam is set ablaze as the Congress party intensified its allegations of corruption against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, spearheading the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' labeled Sarma as the 'most corrupt' Chief Minister in the country, while fellow parliamentarian Gaurav Gogoi emphasised that corruption as the primary concern for the people of the state.
Addressing the predominantly tribal population on the second day of the Yatra in Majuli, Gandhi reiterated his accusations leveled against Sarma, alleging widespread corruption within his government. The Chief Minister, on the other hand, in a retaliatory move on the first day of the Yatra in Assam, accused the Gandhi family of being 'most corrupt' and using a 'duplicate' surname.
Gogoi, speaking at a press conference in Jengraimukh, shed light on the party's focus on corruption, stating, "In Assam, people told us that they are not getting jobs, prices are high, but instead of solving these, the CM is indulging in corruption and trying to get his family and his close coterie super rich. That's why the focus is on corruption."
"We want to question why the BJP likes corrupt CMs. Who is that person in Delhi who likes the corrupt CMs and keeps them in power?" Gogoi asked, raising concerns over the Saradha chit fund and Louis Berger bribery scams in which Sarma's name had surfaced.
Gogoi questioned the absence of FIRs against Sarma in these cases, emphasizing, "People are aware of these things, and they demand justice. We are not afraid of the BJP, and wherever they want to spread fear, we will ignite the fire of courage."
Gogoi highlighted the Congress's commitment to exposing the alleged corruption of Chief Minister Sarma and questioned the lack of action against him by those in power in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Bhupen Kumar Borah, accused Sarma of joining the BJP to evade corruption charges and labeled him a 'backstabber.' Borah claimed that Sarma betrayed the trust of former Congress CMs Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi, positioning himself as Chief Minister in the 2021 polls.
Highlighting Sarma's past loyalty towards the Gandhi family, Borah recalled the Chief Minister's disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite Sarma's attempts, Borah asserted, "We are not afraid of him. We will go to jail if needed."
The 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' spanning 6,713 km across 110 districts in 15 states, aims to culminate in Mumbai on March 20.
Follow us
