Barpeta (Assam), January 24: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took a sharp dig at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging corruption and land ownership controversies against him during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Speaking to the people in Barpeta, Gandhi claimed that the Chief Minister controls the media and is controlled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gandhi accused Sarma of indulging in the supari (betel nuts) business, saying, Even if you have paan (betel leaves), the supari business lies with him…In the evening when you have paan, you will know that it belongs to the Chief Minister. He went on to label Sarma as the most corrupt Chief Minister in the country.
The Congress MP also pointed out Sarma’s alleged ownership of land in the Kaziranga National Forest, stating, He (Himanta) took away land at Kaziranga. Now whenever you go to watch rhino in Kaziranga, you will know that the Chief Minister owns the land there.
Gandhi further accused Sarma of spreading fear and hatred and taking advantage of people’s distraction to steal their land and money. Your Chief Minister spreads fear and hatred 24 hours a day. But he does not stop there. When fear and hatred spread in Assam, your Chief Minister steals your land. He spreads hatred and when you stare elsewhere he picks your pocket. This is his work.
The Congress leader also alleged that Sarma is controlled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and claimed that if the Chief Minister dares to say anything against Shah, he will be expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) within minutes.
As Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Barpeta, these scathing remarks against the Assam Chief Minister highlight the political tensions in the state.
