Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress, has recently taken a sharp jab at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, referencing his departure from the Congress party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kharge's remarks also included criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy during a recent five-nation tour.
Kharge made the statement during a meeting with party workers in Assam, where he said that the Congress party essentially "lent" one of its members to the BJP so that they could form a government in the state. "The man who ran away from the Congress is now the chief minister of Assam," Kharge stated. Himanta Biswa Sarma was a prominent minister in the Congress government in Assam before switching to the BJP in 2015.
Kharge's criticism comes amidst a broader attack by the Congress party on Sarma's administration in Assam. Kharge alleged that the BJP government in Assam is engaging in corrupt practices and those who have wronged the people will be sent to jail. He also claimed that people in Assam were being threatened in the guise of detecting illegal immigrants and would teach the BJP-led government a lesson in the next election. Kharge assured that if the Congress forms a government in the state, it would rebuild the houses and pay compensation to those affected by eviction drives carried out by the BJP government.
Rahul Gandhi, another prominent Congress leader, echoed similar sentiments during his visit to Guwahati. Gandhi accused Sarma of acting like a king and stated that he would eventually be jailed for corruption. Gandhi alleged that Sarma is busy handing over wealth and land to Adani and Ambani and the people of Assam will hold Sarma and his family accountable for their corruption. He claimed that the media will show Sarma being taken to prison, and not even Narendra Modi or Amit Shah will be able to save him.
In response to these allegations, Sarma has claimed that Rahul Gandhi himself is out on bail in multiple criminal cases. He also stated that Gandhi's criticism has elevated his political stature and that it is a clear sign that he must be doing something right for the people of Assam.
Kharge also criticized Prime Minister Modi's recent five-nation tour, stating that Modi could not find two hours to visit strife-torn Manipur. He claimed that the Dalits and people belonging to SC, ST, and OBC communities need to be alert, or else their reservations would be taken away by the BJP government at the Centre.
Previously, Kharge has attacked Modi's foreign policy, saying it was "faulty" and had earned India enemies in all corners. He has stated that because of Modi's policies, India has enemies like China and Pakistan, and even Nepal is distancing itself. Kharge has also alleged that despite visiting 42 countries, PM Modi has not visited Manipur, where ethnic violence has led to loss of life. He accused PM Modi of neglecting domestic issues in favor of international appearances and that Modi has harmed the Indian economy and undermined the Constitution.
Himanta Biswa Sarma's political journey began with the Indian National Congress, where he served as a Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2015. During his time with the Congress, he held several important ministerial portfolios and played a key role in transforming Assam's healthcare and education sectors. In 2015, Sarma joined the BJP and quickly rose to become a prominent leader in the party. He was appointed as the Convener of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and played a crucial role in strengthening the BJP's presence in the Northeastern states. In 2021, Sarma became the Chief Minister of Assam and has since focused on economic growth, infrastructure development, social security, and cultural preservation.
