New Delhi [India]: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), branding it as a “factory of empty promises” while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Speaking at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, Gogoi referred to PM Modi as the “head of the Jumla factory” and labelled CM Sarma the “regional manager.” He accused the BJP of thriving on broken promises and questioned the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption stance.
“PM Modi says, ‘Na khaunga, na khane dunga,’ but in Assam, the CM’s family has landholdings in every district. Narendra Modi calls himself a fakir, but those around him continue to prosper,” Gogoi alleged. He cited accusations from Assam Congress in-charge Jitendra Singh Alwar, claiming that Sarma was building a personal empire in the state.
Addressing regional issues, Gogoi criticised Sarma’s leadership as the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), highlighting the ongoing unrest in Manipur. “Will PM Modi ask Himanta Biswa Sarma why Manipur is facing such instability? President’s rule, violence, and division plague the state—is this Sarma’s Chanakya Niti for the Northeast?” he questioned.
Gogoi also called out the BJP over the delay in finalising the report on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which seeks constitutional safeguards for the Assamese people. “Home Minister Amit Shah promised to accomplish what the late Rajiv Gandhi couldn’t regarding Clause 6, but the committee’s report remains unsigned,” Gogoi remarked.
Ahead of the Assam assembly session, Gogoi claimed that CM Sarma’s political position was weakening. “There’s fear in his eyes. He fears sitting in the opposition after the next elections. Just as he replaced Sarbananda Sonowal in 2021, the same fate awaits him,” Gogoi said.
Accusing Sarma of hiding behind law enforcement, Gogoi added, “When Sarma sits in the opposition, he’ll need more police protection to face public anger. Modi’s anti-corruption slogan has turned into a ‘washing machine’ for corruption, with Sarma as its brand ambassador.”
The Congress MP’s remarks come ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s two-day visit to Assam. PM Modi is set to arrive in Guwahati today, where he will lead a roadshow and attend a grand Jhumoir dance performance at Sarusajai Stadium alongside diplomats from 60 countries. The cultural event will feature 8,600 artists representing 800 tea gardens from across the state.
On February 25, PM Modi will inaugurate the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit at the Khanapara Veterinary College field in Guwahati. The mega event will focus on infrastructure and investment opportunities, drawing participation from Union Ministers, leading industrialists, and global diplomats.