Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam, branding Sarma as the “most corrupt” chief minister. Sarma promptly fired back, labeling the Gandhi family as the country’s most corrupt, sparking a war of words between the political rivals.
Gandhi, addressing the crowd as the yatra entered Assam, accused Sarma and his government of rampant corruption, stating, “The government in Assam is one of the most corrupt. You are all aware of it. We will highlight it during our yatra… probably Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the most corrupt.”
Sarma, known for his pivotal role in the BJP’s northeast expansion, swiftly responded, asserting, “According to me, the most corrupt family in the country is that of the Gandhis.”
The yatra, covering 6,700 km through 15 states, aims to promote unity inspired by the teachings of Srimanta Sankardev, a revered 15th-16th century saint-scholar from Assam. However, it was not without controversy as Rahul Gandhi’s specially designed bus bypassed Amguri in Sivasagar district, where a woman, Angkita Dutta, expelled from the Congress in 2023, sought justice for her grievances.
Dutta, daughter of the late Congress minister Anjan Dutta, alleged harassment by IYC national president Srinivas BV and expressed disappointment that her plea for justice was not addressed during the yatra. Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah dismissed Dutta’s protest as a political conspiracy, emphasizing that her case was under investigation, and the party would respect the court’s judgment.
The yatra also encountered another hiccup when it did not stop at Amguri, raising concerns about selective engagement. Bhupen Borah accused the Assam government of deliberately scheduling the distribution of application forms for a welfare scheme at the same time as the yatra, allegedly attempting to deter women from attending Gandhi’s event. However, the Congress leader maintained that Gandhi’s visit had prompted the government to announce the scheme.
As the political drama unfolded, Sarma defended his government and accused Gandhi of targeting specific communities with the yatra. The back-and-forth allegations showcased the deep-rooted animosity between the Congress and the BJP in the region.
Meanwhile, the yatra did make a stop at a panchayat office in Mariani, Jorhat district, where application forms for a women’s entrepreneurship promotion scheme were distributed. The Congress alleged that the Assam government intentionally clashed the timing of this scheme with the yatra, but Gandhi’s decision to engage with the beneficiaries was hailed by the Assam Congress president.
The political landscape in Assam appears charged with accusations, counter-accusations, and strategic maneuvering. As the yatra progresses, it remains to be seen how these political skirmishes will influence public opinion and shape the narrative in the upcoming elections.