“He spreads hate, he is the most corrupt chief minister”: Rahul Gandhi hits out at the Assam CM as the yatra resumes in the state

Ahead of kickstarting the 11th day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Wednesday, senior Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Assam Chief Minister, calling him the “most corrupt chief minister.” This comes after Rahul Gandhi and several other Congress leaders were booked under the charges of provocation, assault on police personnel, violence, and damage to public property by the Assam police after being instructed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

"The Chief Minister of Assam spreads hate all the time and takes away your lands. He is the most corrupt chief minister," asserted Rahul Gandhi at a gathering in Barpeta before penetrating deeper into Assam. "The BJP tries to divide the nation on the basis of religion, caste, and language, but we strive to unite the nation. Bharat is a country of love, not hate," he added.

Rahul Gadhi and the yatra entourage met with a roadblock at the Guwahati border on Tuesday. Congress workers clashed with the police and barricades were broken. The Assam police resorted to lathi charges to disperse the crowds and bring the situation under control. "Assam CM, the Union Home Minister, and the PM can break the rules, but we (Congress) would never do such a thing. However, this doesn't mean that we are weak. Congress workers are 'Babbar Sher'," said Rahul Gandhi at a gathering near the Guwahati border.

Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sharma was quick to retaliate, taking to social media platform “X”, he accused Rahul Gandhi of “provoking” the crowd. “These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “Naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to register a case against your leader @RahulGandhi for provoking the crowd,” posted the Assam CM.

Since the yatra entered Assam on Thursday, Congress has alleged that the BJP-led Assam government has been creating roadblocks, and hindering the progress of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. “What the Assam CM is doing against the yatra is helping the yatra. We are getting the publicity that we may not have got otherwise. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has become a main issue in Assam. I want them to continue disrupting the yatra and help it reach more people,” said Rahul Gandhi.