Guwahati: In a fiery escalation of political rhetoric, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain on Monday stirred controversy during his visit to Doboka, firing back at media queries concerning alleged irregularities during his past tenure as Assam’s Tourism Minister and turning his attention toward the current Chief Minister.
Responding to Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent remarks about Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s selection for a diplomatic delegation to Pakistan, Hussain retorted sharply, saying, “The Chief Minister is afraid even of Gaurav Gogoi’s shadow,” adding fuel to the ongoing war of words between the BJP and the Congress.
In a further swipe at the ruling party, Hussain made an explosive claim that the BJP leadership has internally set a deadline to replace Chief Minister Sarma by September. “Why wait till September? If they know the truth, why not remove him now?” he asked, suggesting an internal rebellion within the saffron party. He went on to predict that even if Sarma survives political pressure, public sentiment will ensure his exit by February.
Ratcheting up his criticism, Hussain also took a dig at the state’s fiscal management. “Even a robot can run a government on loans. You don’t need an elected government for that,” he remarked, questioning the sustainability of Assam’s debt-fuelled development model under the current regime.
The Congress leader’s remarks have already drawn sharp reactions from BJP functionaries, setting the stage for what could be a deeply polarised political showdown in the run-up to key elections in the state.
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