Guwahati: Ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi launched a strong critique of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, 5 April, alleging corruption and attempts to divide communities.
Speaking at a public rally in Biswanath, Gandhi called Sarma “the most corrupt chief minister in the country” and accused him of fostering hostility among people. He added that Assam’s leadership under Sarma promotes negativity rather than unity.
Gandhi warned that if the Congress forms the government, strict legal measures would be taken against wrongdoing. He said that accountability would be unavoidable, and the Chief Minister would have to answer to the people for past actions.
Gandhi mentioned Assam’s well-known cultural figures, such as Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, Gopinath Bordoloi, Azan Fakir, former CM Tarun Gogoi, and singer Zubeen Garg, noting that they symbolized togetherness.
He said, “Assam has a long tradition of bringing people together. Artists like Zubeen Garg dedicated their lives to unity and never promoted hate. Today, some are trying to create divisions, which goes against our culture.”
Gandhi also stressed the importance of communal harmony in Assam’s diverse society. He remarked that the state’s strength comes from its mix of communities, languages, and shared brotherhood.
Targeting economic policies, Gandhi accused the government of favouring certain corporate interests at the expense of locals. He alleged that land is being acquired from residents and transferred to business groups, turning Assam into a source of profit for select individuals. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in this context.
On promises for tea garden workers, Gandhi stated that the Congress manifesto includes daily wages of Rs 450 and plans to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six communities. He emphasised that previous government pledges had largely gone unfulfilled.
This visit marks Gandhi’s second trip to Assam in three days. On April 2, he addressed a rally in Karbi Anglong in support of Congress candidate Raton Engti, where he pledged greater autonomy for indigenous communities. Gandhi promised that the full implementation of Article 244(A) would give local people decision-making powers, rather than control from Guwahati.
He told the crowd, “With Article 244(A) in place, the people of Karbi Anglong will decide their own affairs. No one outside your community will have authority over your region.”
Gandhi’s remarks add to the intensifying political debate between the Congress and the BJP as Assam moves toward the final stages of election campaigning.