Photo credit: ANI
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that he was a “victim” of an alleged rift between Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi during his time in Congress party.Speaking to NDTV, Sarma, who spent 22 years in the Congress before joining the BJP, said “Rahul doesn’t want Priyanka in Kerala. I was in Congress for 22 years. I also have some inner information. He doesn’t want to disturb KC Venugopal and his axis, and Priyanka is an outsider to that axis. That’s why he transferred her to Assam. An MP from Kerala has not been assigned responsibility in Kerala. How else do you interpret this?” he said.Taking a swipe at the Gandhi family, Biswa called them the “world’s biggest flop family” and added, “I think my family is better than theirs. We grew up struggling.”
On Gaurav Gogoi and national security
The CM denied any personal rivalry with Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, saying it was his duty to alert the central government about links to what he called an “enemy country”. He reiterated accusations against Gogoi and his wife of having connections with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.”But when the link is to an enemy country, and I do not forward it to the Government of India, then as a chief minister, I will be doing a disservice to the Constitution and people. Pakistan is an enemy country and a hostile neighbour. Links with Pakistan cannot be compared with a corruption charge,” Sarma said. Quoting the Hindi spy thriller Dhurandhar, he added, “If you catch a spy, will you not expose him?”Sarma also voiced apprehensions over changing relations with Bangladesh, crediting former PM Sheikh Hasina’s regime for assisting Assam in tackling extremism. He warned that any hostility from Dhaka could allow militants to establish a base across the 800 km border.
Vision for Assam’s growth
On economic matters, Sarma outlined his vision to transform Assam beyond hydrocarbon industries, eyeing opportunities in the semiconductor sector. “India is a diverse country. We must take care of every state. If one part becomes developed only to cater to the global ecosystem, and there’s nothing on the other side, then the country will collapse,” he said. He described Assam as “landlocked and tucked away near the border” but “one of the fastest-growing big states”.Touching upon identity and demographic concerns ahead of state elections, he said, “In Assam, we need development. For us, national security and the identity of the Assamese people are paramount. The demographic change is a huge concern. We are fighting for both our identity and development.”Sarma also took a dig at West Bengal, claiming Assam remains a relatively peaceful state, “with no fear of stones being thrown.”
