Guwahati (Assam) [India], January 11 : Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging misgovernance and rampant corruption under his rule. He alleged that everyone's voting rights were being taken away, whether they are tribals, OBCs, SCs, or minorities.
Speaking to reporters, Gaurav Gogoi said, "Everyone's voting rights are being taken away, whether they are tribals, OBCs, SCs, or minorities. They want to prevent those who voted against the BJP in the last election from voting again. This shows how scared they are."
He further alleged that CM Sarma had not even been able to provide justice in the Zubeen Garg death case.
"The Chief Minister is known to make false, misleading statements. His words have zero credibility. We have seen how he has managed to give a very weak charge sheet in the case of Zubeen Garg. He has not even been able to give justice in the matter of Zubeen Garg. People involved in the death of Zubeen Garg are not mentioned in the chargesheet only because they are close to the Chief Minister and his family. Therefore, the people of Assam know very well when the Chief Minister is lying," Gogoi further said.
As part of the Jati Bachao, Mati Bachao campaign launched with the objective of building a strong and united Bor Asom, a massive joining programme was held today at the Manavendra Sharma Complex in Guwahati in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi. Representatives of several community-based organisations formally joined the Congress during the programme.
Among those who joined the party were prominent tribal leader Rukma Kumar Medok, who long served as President of the Mising Mëmang Kebang (MMK), former All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) President Rezaul Karim Sarkar, and several leaders and workers from the BJP, AGP, and UPPL. Other notable entrants included BJP leader Manoj Kumar Mahanta, Kaushik Hazarika, General Secretary of AGP's youth wing Assam Juba Parishad, and UPPL leaders Chila Basumatary and Arun Basumatary.
Gogoi said the people of Assam have begun collectively asking, "Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?" in their resolve to end fear, corruption and intimidation and to build a fearless Assam.
Recalling his late father and former Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, he said that by asking a communal leader the question "Who is?" Tarun Gogoi had once transformed the political environment of Assam. Today, he said, the people of Assam have found the courage to once again question authority by asking, "Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?"
Gogoi alleged that the present government has created an atmosphere of fear through fabricated narratives and warned that such politics of fear must be defeated. "We do not want to live in an environment of fear. Peace had returned to Assam during the Tarun Gogoi government. It is now our responsibility to restore peace and end the politics of fear and hatred," he said.
Describing the people of Assam as self-respecting, Gogoi recalled how Assamese people united during the freedom struggle to drive out the British and earlier defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat.
"That unity is the true identity of Bor Asom. As long as Bor Asom remains united, it will remain strong. We will not allow anyone to divide us through fear politics to benefit a select few," he asserted.
He further stated that the government has realised that the people are uniting, and if this unity continues, Himanta Biswa Sarma will not remain Chief Minister. Gogoi warned that the most difficult day for Himanta Biswa Sarma would be when the people of Assam stand united, as he would then realise that he is not a king but merely an ordinary individual. "If he believes he can rule forever like an arrogant king, that will be his biggest mistake," Gogoi said.
He concluded by saying that in the forthcoming Assembly elections, the people of Assam will demonstrate that they are not afraid. "The day the people unite against fear and syndicate politics, that day Assam will say, 'Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?' In Assam, only the people can be sovereign--no individual can be a king. That is our resolve," Gogoi declared.
It may be mentioned that former AAMSU adviser Azizul Haque, former vice-president Dilwar Hussain, former leader Khan Hasanur Zaman, former executive member Sirajul Sarkar, senior citizen of Mangaldoi Minu Kalita, advocate Alokesh Medhi and several others were among the hundreds who joined the Congress on Sunday.
The programme was attended by AICC Secretary Manoj Chauhan, senior Congress leader Binanda Saikia, MLAs Shivamani Bora, Yadav Swargiary, Asif Nazar, Nandita Das, Nurul Huda and Abdur Rahim; APCC General Secretaries Bipul Gogoi and Pradyut Bhuyan; Assam Mahila Congress President Mira Borthakur; APCC Media Department Chairman Bedabrat Bora, along with several senior leaders and party workers.