In a series of tweets, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for ‘provoking the crowd’ and making false claims during his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. In addition to the factual counter of allegations and claims made by the Congress party, Sarma has also asserted that the latter will have to face the music of law for its ‘unruly behaviour’ and ‘naxalite tactics’.
After Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered the Assam leg, the Congress party has been claiming to be victims of violence at the behest of state CM Sarma. Taking the allegations further, Rahul Gandhi, on 23rd January, claimed that the Assam CM intervened and stopped him from meeting students from the North East region and delivering an address before them.
Congress leveled allegations from the official X handle that the Home Minister of India called the Chief Minister of Assam asking him to stop Rahul Gandhi from meeting university students.st. That’s why I could not come to meet you at your university, the tweet added.
The party further claimed that today (23rd January) Rahul Gandhi had an interaction program with students at a university but suddenly the university cancelled this program.
Responding to the post, Assam CM Sarma took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and pointed out that the purported program was in Meghalaya but he is abusing Assam in his allegations.
In a sarcastic tone, Sarma tweeted, “What a man – the program was in Meghalaya but he is abusing Assam.”
क्या आदमी हैं – कार्यक्रम मेघालय में थी लेकिन गाली गलोच असम को दे रहा है । https://t.co/iYSRnf0yNG
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
In another tweet, CM Sarma pointed this out saying, “Brother, the university you have mentioned is in Meghalaya not in Assam.”
Brother , the university you have mentioned is in Meghalaya not in Assam https://t.co/MqC97bbivI
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
It is important to note that Congress leaders have themselves said that Rahul Gandhi was reportedly invited to address the students of the University of Science and Technology which is in Meghalaya. However, the Congress party hurled accusations at the Assam government for alleged disruption or cancellation of Rahul Gandhi’s event in another state.
However, when Assam CM pointed out, in a series of tweets, that the Congress leader was making false claims, Rahul Gandhi presented it as a win for Yatra. According to him, Assam CM Sarma was helping them get publicity which they might have not gotten otherwise by engaging and pointing out factual errors in their unfound allegations.
Regarding the development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Whatever the Assam CM is doing against the Yatra, it benefits the Yatra. The publicity that we might have not got, by doing this the Assam CM & Union Home Minister Amit Shah are helping us. Now, the main issue in Assam is the Yatra…It is their intimidation tactics…Our message of Nyay is reaching the people…”
#WATCH | Assam: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "Whatever the Assam CM is doing against the Yatra, it benefits the Yatra. The publicity that we might have not got, by doing this the Assam CM & Union Home Minister Amit Shah are helping us. Now, the main issue in Assam is the… pic.twitter.com/k9QCdJHMIt
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024
Meanwhile, apart from busting the false allegations, Assam CM also asserted that Rahul Gandhi and others will have to face the law for inciting people to attack Assam Police personnel. Notably, the Bharat Jodo Yatra which had gone to Meghalaya, tried to return to Assam for its last leg in the state.
However, the Guwahati police denied permission to them to enter the city limits. Afterward, the Congress leader attacked the Police barricades and broke them.
Regarding the attack on Police personnel, the Assam CM had, earlier in the day, instructed the Assam DGP to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for ‘provoking the crowd’. He condemned the ‘unruly behaviour’ of the Congress workers and pointed out that such “naxalite tactics” are alien to Assamese culture.
Furthermore, he mentioned that he has directed police to use the footage shared by Congress workers as evidence of the “unruly behaviour” of their leader and that they violated the agreed guidelines.
These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to register a case against your leader @RahulGandhi for provoking the crowd & use the footage you have posted on your… https://t.co/G84Qhjpd8h
In another tweet, he shared another video ‘evidence’ which, as per his post, revealed how Rahul Gandhi and one man named Jitendra Singh instigated the mob to attack Assam Police personnel.
प्रमाण सामने आ रहे हैं कि किस प्रकार से राहुल गांधी और जितेंद्र सिंह ने भीड़ को असम पुलिस के जवानों को मारने के लिए भड़काया।
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
हमारे जवान जनता के सेवक हैं, किसी शाही परिवार के नहीं।
निश्चिंत रहिए, क़ानून के हाथ बहुत लंबे होते हैं, आप तक जरूर पहुंचेंगे। pic.twitter.com/MqW1vyo73V
Assuring that there will be action for such acts, Sarma tweeted, “Evidence is emerging as to how Rahul Gandhi and Jitendra Singh instigated the mob to attack Assam Police personnel. Our policemen are servants of the public, not of any royal family. Rest assured, the law has a very long arm and will definitely reach you.”
