Rahul Gandhi in Assam: ‘CM Himanta Biswa Sarma acts like king, but people will jail him'; vows Congress return
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visiting Guwahati on Wednesday along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge for a one-day tour aimed at energising the party's Assam unit ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
Speaking at a party event in Chaygaon, Rahul, targeting Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, said, 'He thinks he is a 'raja', but he will not be in power for long. He will end up in jail — not because Congress wants it, but because the people of Assam will send him there for corruption.'
He further said, "The people of Assam know the truth... There will be elections soon, and the Congress will sweep those elections. We have created a new team here...
We have started the work, and the people of Assam will soon see the results."
— ANI (@ANI)
The Congress leader accused the BJP of trying to manipulate elections through voter list changes. Referring to the Maharashtra assembly polls, he said, 'The BJP won by cheating in Maharashtra using voter list revision. They are trying the same in Bihar.'
He added that the fight in India today was between two ideologies — 'RSS' hatred and violence versus Congress' truth and non-violence.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Rahul also claimed that 'There are two Hindustans now – one of a few billionaires who host lavish weddings, and the other of common people who are burdened with taxes.'
Earlier in the day, Rahul and Kharge arrived at the Guwahati airport, where they were welcomed by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and other senior leaders with traditional Assamese 'gamosas'. Rahul also greeted Bodo dancers performing at the airport.
The two leaders began their day with a closed-door meeting with the party's state unit, including MPs, MLAs, PCC office-bearers, and grassroots leaders. They also interacted with members of tribal communities.
This marks the Congress leaders' first trip to Assam since Gaurav Gogoi was appointed state party president.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
Congress To Rebuild Ground Network From Booth To State, Says New Gujarat Unit Chief
AHMEDABAD: Newly appointed Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda has pledged to lead a proactive, people-centric opposition aimed at ensuring the welfare, peace, prosperity, and security of Gujarat's citizens. Addressing party workers and the press following his return from Delhi, Chavda said the Congress would firmly raise the voice of the common people, especially at a time when the "double-engine BJP government is actively suppressing it". Chavda, a former state Congress president and seasoned MLA, said the party would launch an extensive 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan', strengthening the organisation from booth to state level. "We will ensure that grassroots workers are empowered and their voices reflected in all party decisions," he said, adding that new faces would be given opportunities as part of a renewed organisational structure. Expressing gratitude to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and Gujarat in-charge Mukul Wasnik for entrusting him with the leadership, Chavda also thanked thousands of Congress workers and leaders who welcomed him at Ahmedabad airport upon his arrival. He emphasised that the Congress will intensify its outreach efforts, build direct public engagement, and fight for key issues affecting Gujarat. "We will fight for the rights of youth, farmers, women, the marginalised, and the oppressed. The present government thrives on bureaucratic overreach, commission raj, and corruption. It must be challenged head-on," he said. Chavda criticised the BJP-led state government for its alleged authoritarianism, accusing it of stifling democratic dissent. "Citizens are being harassed for voicing concerns. Journalists and whistleblowers are threatened into silence. This undeclared emergency must end, and Congress workers will be at the forefront to protect democracy," he declared. Referring to growing public anger, he said: "Bridges are collapsing, people are dying, daughters are being pushed to suicide, and cattle farmers are being cane-charged for raising their demands. The people of Gujarat are losing faith in the BJP." Quoting Rahul Gandhi's recent speech in Parliament, Chavda said the Congress is committed to defeating the BJP in Gujarat and restoring true democratic governance. 'We will fight together, as one Congress family from the top leadership to the last worker on the ground and ensure that the people of Gujarat reclaim their rights and dignity,' he concluded.
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Chaitanya Baghel actively linked to proceeds of crime in liquor case: ED tells court
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) claimed before a court on Friday (July 18, 2025) that companies linked to Chaitanya Baghel, the son of senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been in possession of proceeds of crime and is also actively involved in the processes or activity connected with 'proceeds of crime including its acquisition, possession, concealment, transfer, use, projecting the same as untainted etc'. Based on the purported disclosures by Laxmi Narayan Bansal, another accused in the case, the probe agency told the court that Mr. Bansal had admitted in his statements that he handled more than ₹1,000 crore cash originating out of the liquor scam in association with Mr. Chaitanya Baghel, which are proceeds of crime. '...he [Bansal] used to collect these proceeds of crime from Anwar Dhebar via Dipen Chawda and thereafter he had delivered the said funds to Shri Ram Gopal Agarwal in coordination with Chaitanya Baghel. Also, he delivered around ₹80-100 crore cash (out of the above said funds received from Dipen Chawda) to 'Shri K.K. Srivastava' on Chaitanya Baghel instructions,' the ED stated before the court. All the other names mentioned above are co-accused in the case. It claimed that Mr. Chaitanya Baghel 'is in receipt of proceeds of crime of ₹16.70 crore and has also played an important role in handling of more than ₹1,000 crore originating out of proceeds of crime'. Opposing the petition, the counsels appearing for Mr. Chaitanya Baghel, Faisal Rizvi and Harshwardhan Parganiha, denied all the allegations made in the grounds of arrest. They argued that the accused had legitimate sources of income, primarily drawn from the agriculture business spanning over 200 acres of land, proportionate to his expenditure as well as assets which could well be justified from his annual Income Tax Returns (ITRs).
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
CM warns Rahul, Kharge of legal action
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday warned of potential legal action against Congress's national leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi if investigation substantiates that their speeches instigated attacks on security forces during an eviction drive in Paikan Reserve Forest in Goalpara district on Thursday. Kharge and Gandhi visited Assam on Wednesday and addressed a party workers' gathering at Chaygaon, about 40 km from Guwahati. Referring to Kharge's statement on Wednesday that Congress will rehabilitate the evicted people in the state, Sarma said, "Because of these kinds of speeches, people get encouraged and those evicted people started throwing stones and beating police with sticks and various other weapons (at Paikan)." He said police have registered a case, and "will go through the speeches made by Gandhi and Kharge. If we see that there are elements which invite penal action, they will not hesitate to take action against them". O by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ranked: The 25 Best Cities To Live In The World Learn More Undo n Thursday morning, violence erupted in Paikan Reserve Forest and one civilian died and at least 20 people, including police officers, were injured in clashes between encroachers and security personnel. The clash at Paikan is the latest in a series of high-profile eviction operations in Assam targeting encroachment on forest and govt land, a policy vigorously pursued by Sarma's administration, often accompanied by political controversy. The issue is escalating as a major political flashpoint in the state, with broader implications for law enforcement, communal relations, and the next state elections. Both ruling and opposition parties are increasingly framing the evictions and related violence as key battlegrounds ahead of the 2026 state elections, with legal, communal, and political overtones dominating public discourse. Sarma also said Congress is preparing for 2026 state elections with a "single-point agenda" of attempting to put him behind bars and dismissed Rahul's remarks about jailing the chief minister, arguing that only the law and judiciary could decide such matters. "He is just an MP today. How can he arrest a chief minister?" Sarma said, adding that even Congress members do not give importance to what Gandhi says. "The big question is whether Rahul Gandhi will be in jail and when. ED has seized many property of Robert Vadra today (Thursday). There are many jails in India waiting for the Gandhis," Sarma said "There are two cases against Gandhi in Assam, I can bring him in. But my election cannot be Gandhi-centric, it will be on our work for the state. I am not allowing my mind to be diverted, else I would have retorted in ample measure to the threats given to me," he said.
