Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responded to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s opposition to the Bharat Jodo Nyay yatra by stating that the CM is inadvertently aiding the yatra’s publicity. Gandhi remarked that Sarma’s denial of entry to temples, colleges, and now the padyatra is gaining attention and raising questions among the people.
Speaking at a press meet near Guwahati, Gandhi accused Chief Minister Sarma of being one of the most corrupt leaders in the country. He highlighted issues such as unemployment, corruption, and rising prices in the state, emphasizing their adverse impact on people’s lives.
Gandhi criticized Sarma’s attempts to dictate the language and tradition of Assam, asserting that such decisions cannot be made by the Chief Minister alone. Referring to the ‘INDIA together’ alliance as the opposition to the RSS and BJP, Gandhi expressed frustration at being denied access to various places, claiming that it only draws more attention to the issues he is raising.
Chief Minister Sarma, earlier in the day, accused Gandhi of using “Naxalite tactics” and directed the Assam Director General of Police (DGP) to initiate a criminal case against him after a clash between Congress supporters and the police in Guwahati on January 23.
Addressing the BJP’s response to the yatra, Gandhi stated, “If BJP attacks us, I don’t get intimidated. This is my truth. We want them to disrupt the yatra to gain more publicity.” He invited everyone to join the yatra and mentioned ongoing discussions for seat negotiations with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, promising details soon.
Dhairya Saraswat