The political confrontation between Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi escalated sharply, following a violent clash during an eviction drive in Goalpara district. CM Sarma accused Gandhi of inciting the unrest through remarks made at a Congress workers’ meet in Chaygaon a day earlier, where Gandhi allegedly encouraged “encroachers” to occupy forest land.
The CM claimed these comments misled evicted families, triggering clashes with police during a fresh eviction operation that left one person dead and 21 police personnel injured. Police have registered a case, and CM Sarma warned that action could be taken against Gandhi or Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge if their speeches are found to have incited violence.
Rahul Gandhi, who was in Assam to galvanise the party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, launched a fierce attack on Sarma during his speech, accusing the Chief Minister of acting like a monarch and favouring corporate interests over the common people.
He hailed Congress grassroots workers as “sher aur sherni” (lions and lionesses) and said they would reclaim Assam’s future. Gandhi alleged that the BJP, with support from a “compromised” Election Commission, was systematically removing poor and farmer voters from electoral rolls. His fiery speech drew enthusiastic applause and marked a key moment in Congress’s efforts to rebuild its base in the state.
