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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Anti-incumbency can benefit Gaurav in 2026
Guwahati: Upon taking charge as Assam PCC President on Tuesday, Gaurav Gogoi has instilled optimism among Congress members. They believe he can achieve what his father Tarun Gogoi accomplished by steering the party from opposition to power next year. The party anticipates his leadership will guide them to triumph against the BJP in the 2026 assembly elections, reminiscent of how Tarun Gogoi previously defeated the AGP govt in 2001 and secured three consecutive terms against regional parties and BJP. Tarun Gogoi, who served as the longest-tenured state PCC president, led the party in opposition during his presidency from 1986 to 90 and 1996 to 2002. He subsequently transformed the Assam Congress's trajectory, serving as chief minister from 2001 to 2016. While he tackled insurgency and financial difficulties, senior Congress leaders observe that contemporary challenges are distinct. Those experienced in managing party affairs during testing times suggest anti-incumbency could benefit Gaurav in 2026. Former Assam PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah noted that Gaurav faces a different political scenario, confronting a "communal" and national force like BJP, unlike his father who opposed the secular-regional AGP. "When Tarun Gogoi was state PCC chief, politics in Assam was not communal. But now its communal atmosphere and society is polarised, which is the biggest challenge before Gaurav Gogoi. But the lifeline for Gaurav is that BJP has ruled in Centre and state for more than 10 years. Definitely, anti-incumbency has grown. The CM's image is no more like it was when he became CM. We must overcome polarisation politics to win," Borah added. "Political atmospheres are different if we compare the times of Tarun Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi. Ulfa insurgency was a big issue during Tarun Gogoi was PCC President. Assam Agitation was just over when Tarun Gogoi became PCC chief in 1986 and AGP govt was formed. Many Congressmen were killed in insurgency, Congress was boycotted. During that most crucial period from 1986 to 1990, Tarun Gogoi led Congress from the front," said Rituparna Konwar, senior spokesperson of the Assam Congress. In 1991, the Congress returned to power in Assam with Hiteswar Saikia becoming CM and Tarun Gogoi was shifted to central politics. Konwar highlighted present-day challenges, noting Assam's considerable debt under BJP administration, surpassing 1.76 lakh crore with per capita debt nearing Rs 48,000 crore. He acknowledged that while insurgency has diminished, Gaurav encounters different challenges with the party in opposition and alleged governmental interference. "He is an able leader, known for his efficiency in Parliament. Last time in the Lok Sabha election, the entire BJP leadership tried to defeat him in Jorhat, but he won. Now the govt is targeting him by accusing him of maintaining Pakistan links because they fear Gaurav Gogoi," said Konwar. Assam Pradesh Youth Congress vice-president Rakesh Chakraborty expressed confidence in Gaurav's appointment, indicating he must address BJP's welfare scheme claims and highlight Congress's secular values to gain working-class backing.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam's arms license policy excludes inter-state border areas, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-state border areas of stated in X, 'There were some queries regarding whether the arms license policy would also apply to inter-state border areas such as those shared with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Let us clarify: Assam has always maintained that inter-state border issues are matters that can and should be resolved through mutual understanding and trust. We do not view these regions as vulnerable in the context of national security threats. Accordingly, the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-state border areas of Assam'.The Assam government on Wednesday announced that the government will give arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote" said that the Assam Cabinet has taken a very important decision to protect the interests of our Jati, Mati, Bheti ((community- land- base). Arms Licenses will be granted to Original Inhabitants and indigenous Indian people living in vulnerable areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile said that this decision is taken after reviewing the "demand" of the people living in these areas. 'Assam is a very different and sensitive state. Assamese people living in some areas have been feeling insecure and they have been demanding arms licences for a long time. The government will be lenient in giving licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and must belong to the indigenous community living in vulnerable and remote areas of the chief minister said that in Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon and South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara districts indigenous people are minority and they suffer from insecurity especially after the developments in neighbouring Bangladesh these people may be targeted from other side of border and even in their village they may be added, 'Indigenous people are a small number in these areas. So people from these areas if they seek a license, the government will liberally provide them. This will ensure protection for our people in Dhing, Rupohi and Lahorighat. And Indigenous people from these places will not have to sell their land to move to different places. This move will provide confidence to them.'He added, 'This demand has been there since Assam Agitation (1979-1985) however no government has courage to do this. Had we been given an arm license then several people would not have had to sell their land and move to different places. Lot of people in Darrang and Nagaon during my visit to these places during the campaign of Panchayat polls requested me to provide arms licence or they said they will have to move out of the area.'He said, 'Deputy commissioners will do due diligence like the person should not be a criminal and does not have past records of crimes or criminal cases.'Assam has an interstate border dispute with Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Parleys are on to resolve border disputes with these July 26, 2021, there were clashes along Assam-Mizoram border which resulted in the death of seven people and injuries to several others. The Union Home ministry had to intervene.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Assam, scheme to issue arms licences to ‘indigenous people'
The Assam Cabinet Wednesday announced that it has approved a scheme to issue arms licences to 'indigenous people' in parts of the state where their population is in the minority, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stating that the government 'will encourage' them to apply and take arms licences. While listing examples of such 'vulnerable areas,' Sarma named districts such as Dhubri, Morigaon, Nagaon, Barpeta and South Salmara. Bengali-origin Muslims account for the majority in these areas. Samra stated that 'indigenous people are in the minority' in these areas and often 'have to confront the question of their security.' Sarma was speaking after an Assam Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday evening. 'Particularly in light of the incidents in Bangladesh, they can be victims of an attack from the side of Bangladesh and can be victims of an attack in their own villages as well. In light of this, the Cabinet has taken a decision today that in all such vulnerable areas in Assam, indigenous people will be given arms licences… For that, today we announce the 'special schemes for grant of arms licences to original inhabitants and indigenous Indian citizens in vulnerable and remote areas of Assam',' he said. 'In Dhing, Rupohi, Lahorighat, in the pockets in these areas in which our Assamese people are still there, they always have to leave the area out of fear. They sell their land and leave. Now we are telling them that the government will give you licences so that you can continue living there with some courage,' he said. Sarma called the decision a major step towards securing 'jati mati bheti' (community, land and hearth), the slogan on which the BJP had come to power in Assam. 'These demands were there from the days of the Assam Agitation (1979-1985), and if then itself we had given arms licences to our indigenous people, maybe people would not have sold their homes and land,' he said. Sarma said that this would be notified on an immediate basis. 'Once we take a cabinet memorandum, it will take a maximum 24 hours to sign. After that, it is notified,' the Chief Minister said.
