Diphu, Assam – A political storm is brewing in Assam with Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi levelling serious corruption allegations concerning a sprawling, under-construction building in Diphu, purportedly owned by a close associate of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. On Sunday, Gogoi, the president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, released a video asserting that this lavish structure far outstrips the infamous “sheesh mahal” that became a point of contention in Delhi’s political landscape, urging central agencies to take notice.
In his video, filmed directly in front of the imposing edifice in Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong district, Gogoi drew a stark parallel to the “sheesh mahal” allegations that the BJP had previously raised against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “I have come to Diphu today and am standing before this big bungalow. I heard that this bungalow belongs to a close friend of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. It looks like a bigger ‘sheesh mahal’ in Diphu than Delhi’s ‘sheesh mahal’,” Gogoi stated, questioning the source of funding for the alleged crores spent on its construction. He pointedly asked whether the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department would initiate an investigation into the matter.
Further, Gogoi took a direct dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-corruption mantra of ‘na khaaonga, na khane doonga’, claiming that its spirit was conspicuously absent in Assam. The video, shared across Gogoi’s Facebook and Instagram handles, quickly gained traction, igniting a fresh wave of political debate in the state.
Responding to the veiled accusations, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, without explicitly naming Gogoi, dismissed the allegations, asserting that any attempt to discredit Karbi Anglong leader Tuliram Ronghang by individuals “acting at the behest of hostile forces like Pakistan” would be futile. Sarma emphasised that such efforts would not “dampen the spirit of progress” within Karbi Anglong and among its populace.
Gogoi’s recent allegations come amidst his extensive tours across Assam since assuming the APCC presidency. He has been actively engaging with various sections of society and party workers, aiming to galvanise the Congress ahead of the assembly elections slated for early next year, and has consistently targeted the state’s BJP government, its policies, and the Chief Minister on a range of issues.