Political tensions in Assam escalated as Congress launched a fresh offensive against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing his government of corruption, land acquisitions, and environmental violations. Congress in-charge Jitendra Singh Alwar directly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that tea estate owners in Assam were being coerced while the Chief Minister’s associates and family members were purchasing tea gardens at an alarming rate. The opposition claimed that large corporate entities that once managed tea plantations had exited the state, allowing the commercialization of tea estates under Sarma’s administration.
Adding to the allegations, Congress raised concerns about Vani Green Resort, reportedly run by the Chief Minister’s wife, questioning whether it had obtained the necessary environmental clearances before being established within an elephant corridor. “What magic lamp did Narendra Modi give to the Chief Minister of Assam, that Himanta Biswa Sarma has now become a business tycoon?” Alwar asked, accusing Sarma of amassing significant assets, including tea estates, news portals, McDonald’s outlets, international schools, and vast stretches of land in protected tribal areas such as Majuli, Kamrup, Guwahati, Nagaon, and Golaghat.
The opposition further alleged that the Sarma-led government was allowing illegal rat-hole mining to continue despite a nationwide ban, demanding an inquiry into whether the Chief Minister’s associates or cabinet members were profiting from the practice. “While the BJP government claims ‘Modi ji’s support, Himanta’s development,’ the reality is that corruption and exploitation are flourishing under its rule,” Alwar remarked.
BJP leader Pawan Khera responded to the accusations, condemning the ruling party for allegedly weaponizing law enforcement to suppress dissent. “Those who think they can intimidate Congress with police and state power are mistaken. We will continue to question the government every day and won’t let the BJP rest until the elections are over,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the Assam Tribal Students Organization reignited concerns over unfulfilled promises made by Prime Minister Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. They pointed out that despite Modi’s assurance to increase tea workers’ daily wages to Rs 351, laborers still earn between Rs 220 and Rs 250. The organization also criticized the government for failing to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six Assamese communities within the promised 100-day timeline. Furthermore, they accused the BJP of failing to implement the Assam Accord in its true spirit, alleging that instead of deporting illegal immigrants as originally pledged, the party had accommodated them under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Congress leader Debabrata Saikia further accused the BJP of neglecting Assam’s flood and erosion crisis, despite prior assurances of financial aid and national-level intervention. “Despite PM Modi’s claims of fighting corruption, it remains rampant in Assam,” he added. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi echoed similar sentiments, branding the BJP as a “factory of slogans,” with Modi as the factory head and Sarma as the regional manager. Mocking the Prime Minister’s self-proclaimed ascetic lifestyle, he remarked, “Modi calls himself a fakir (saint), yet those around him are continuously accumulating wealth and power.”
The Assam Congress President, Bhupen Kumar Borah, further slammed the BJP government for its handling of law and order, recalling a recent attack on him and Congress MP Rakibul Hussain. He alleged that “Jungle Raj” was taking hold in Assam under Sarma’s leadership. Borah also criticized the government for shutting down 1,600 government schools in the past three years while allegedly facilitating the expansion of liquor stores, making Assam home to the highest number of liquor shops in the country. He also accused the administration of taking loans worth Rs 2,000 crore per month, claiming that the funds were being used for personal luxuries rather than public welfare.
With elections on the horizon, the confrontation between Congress and BJP in Assam is reaching new heights. As the opposition ramps up pressure, it remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Modi or Chief Minister Sarma will respond to these mounting allegations.