GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 24 mounted a sharp attack on the Congress and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, alleging that the interests of indigenous Assamese people would be sidelined if either Gogoi or the Congress were to come to power in the state.

Addressing the media, Sarma claimed that recent statements made by Akhil Gogoi while interacting with members of the Miya community were politically dangerous. He alleged that Gogoi had suggested he would become the Home Minister if the Congress returned to power and would ensure that no eviction drives were conducted against people from the Miya community, while offering them protection.

“The way Akhil Gogoi is speaking, one can assume that if he or the Congress comes to power, Assam will turn into a ‘Miya state’, and there will be no work or protection for the Assamese people,” the Chief Minister said.

Sarma also targeted the Congress over its ticket distribution process ahead of the Assembly elections. Referring to the last day of nominations, he alleged that the Congress headquarters at Rajiv Bhawan was “flooded” with people from minority-dominated areas. He claimed that of nearly 700 aspirants who sought Congress tickets, around 600 belonged to the Miya community.

The Chief Minister further alleged that members of the Miya community had contributed ?50,000 each to the Congress, either to seek party tickets or to fund efforts aimed at defeating the BJP in the upcoming polls.

Taking a jibe at the Congress, Sarma said that even a Hindu Congress worker had remarked that visiting Rajiv Bhawan now felt like “going to a mosque,” which he cited as evidence of what he described as the party’s changing character.

“For the Miya community, defeating the BJP has been turned into a kind of jihad,” Sarma said, accusing the Congress of indulging in appeasement politics ahead of the elections.

The remarks come amid escalating political rhetoric in Assam, as parties step up their campaigns in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally