Himanta Biswa Sarma calls Congress ‘soft naxal’, asks if Rahul Gandhi uses body double in yatra

Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was with the Congress for 22 years and the party was never so Left-leaning like what it has become now.

Updated on: Jan 25, 2024, 14:36:38 IST

By HT News Desk

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Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the soul of the Congress has been killed as the grand old party has become soft naxal -- moving away from the Gandhian philosophy. “I was with the Congress for 22 years. Slogans have changed. Congress slogans used to be different, soft. Now they have become Left-leaning,” Himanta Biswa said as Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered West Bengal from after touring Assam. The Assam leg of the yatra was eventful because of the continuous exchange of barbs between Himanta and Rahul Gandhi, their enmity goes a long way.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said when he was in the Congress, the party was different. (PTI)

An FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi in Assam on the charge of instigating violence. Himanta on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi will be arrested after the Lok Sabha election. The case has already been transferred to the Assam CID for a thorough investigation.

In Rahul Gandhi vs Himanta, Congress's 'do it now' dare to arrest threat: ‘Why after Lok Sabha polls?’

Rahul Gandhi used body-double in yatra: Himanta

Citing a media report, Himanta said Rahul Gandhi sits inside a room created in the bus. "I have not seen but I have seen reports. Congress people told me that Rahul Gandhi generally sits inside the bus. Then who is sitting in the front who looks like Rahul Gandhi from far? This is another issue," Himanta Biswa said.

"Rahul Gandhi came to Guwahati but did not go to visit Maa Kamakhya. You did not even stop at Dr Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Khetra...BJP will win all constituencies where Rahul Gandhi travelled. Then what was the purpose of your yatra? Only to create communal tension? I suggested places where Rahul Gandhi could go. His team came to Kamakhya to do a recce but he did not come for a final visit," Himanta said.

"His only intention was to create unrest during the pran pratishtha in Ayodhya. But the people of Assam did not let that happen," the Assam chief minister said.

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