Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday launched a sharp political offensive against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging rampant corruption, misuse of power, and a systematic erosion of the state’s cultural and demographic identity.
Addressing the media, Khera claimed that Assam’s global image—once shaped by icons like musician Zubeen Garg—has suffered under the present BJP-led government. “Assam was known for tea, culture and harmony. Today it is being associated with drugs, cattle smuggling and corruption. Even the meaning of ‘ABCD’ has changed,” he said, without elaborating on the reference.
He further criticised the government for neglecting the long-pending demands of tea garden workers. Instead of resolving people’s issues, Khera alleged, the chief minister has “misused power” and allowed administrative failures to deepen.
In a serious charge, Khera claimed that attempts were being made to influence the coming elections by bringing in non-residents to vote. “You may see buses and trains full of voters being mobilised. This is a direct attack on the identity of the indigenous Assamese people,” he warned, adding that Assam’s democratic foundation was at stake.
Khera projected APCC president Gaurav Gogoi as the face of a new generational shift in Assam politics, comparing his leadership to the development-oriented tenure of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
Escalating his criticism, the Congress spokesperson accused Sarma of being excessively dependent on law enforcement agencies and the Election Commission. “Without support from the police and EC, he cannot move freely,” he alleged.
Khera also claimed that tribal lands in Assam were being transferred to corporate groups, naming the Adani and Ambani conglomerates. He demanded that the chief minister publicly reveal the wealth accumulated by his family in the past five to seven years.
Referring to past cases against Sarma by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation, Khera questioned how these probes were “suddenly cleared” once Sarma joined the BJP. “This is classic washing-machine politics,” he remarked.
