In a fiery address at a Congress workers' convention in Katigorah, Cachar, senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi launched a blistering assault on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the ruling BJP government. Gogoi, addressing a gathering of nearly 20,000 party workers and supporters from across the three districts of Barak Valley, leveled serious allegations of electoral malpractice and systemic corruption.
Allegations of 'Vote Chori' and Syndicate Control
Gogoi directly accused the BJP administration of engaging in what he termed "vote chori" or vote theft, particularly in minority-dominated regions of Assam. He asserted that the BJP government has transformed what was once a "developed Barak" into a "syndicate-controlled Barak," implying that organized corruption networks now dominate the valley's economic and political landscape.
Scathing Critique of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
The Congress leader did not mince words in his criticism of the Chief Minister. "This chief minister steals cattle in Upper Assam, steals land in Karbi Anglong, steals water in tea garden areas, and indulges in vote chori in minority-dominated regions," Gogoi declared passionately. He went further to brand the BJP as "thieves and dacoits," using strong language to characterize what he described as widespread malfeasance.
Call to Action for Congress Workers
Gogoi exhorted party workers to maintain heightened vigilance at the grassroots level, urging them to act as "responsible police officers" in their respective areas. "Just as the police maintain discipline in society, Congress workers must stand firmly against these thieves," he emphasized, calling for proactive resistance against alleged corruption and electoral manipulation.
High-Profile Attendance at Convention
The significant political gathering saw participation from several notable figures, including Dhubri MP Rockybul Hussain, Abhijit Mukherjee (son of former President Pranab Mukherjee), former Jharkhand minister Bondu Tirkey, and numerous other senior leaders and district committee officials. This demonstrated the event's importance within Congress organizational strategy in Assam.
The convention in Katigorah represents a strategic mobilization effort by the Congress party in Barak Valley, a region with substantial political significance in Assam's electoral dynamics. Gogoi's allegations reflect ongoing political tensions in the state, where opposition parties have frequently accused the ruling dispensation of various malpractices.
