‘If Congress had given land pattas, no one would have evicted char residents’: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 3 took a swipe at the Congress over land rights and the plight of people living in the state's riverine areas, saying those facing eviction would not have been in such a situation had the previous government provided them land pattas.

"If Congress had given land pattas to the people living in the chars, no one would have evicted them," Sarma said.

The chief minister also referred to Mamataz, saying she could have avoided getting into trouble had she been provided social security by the then Congress government.

Taking another dig at Congress leader Rakibul Hussain, Sarma said the former minister and three-time forest minister could not arrange a lawyer for Mamataz despite, according to him, having "biryani" thrice a day.

"Rakibul, who ate biryani three times, could not arrange a lawyer for Mamataz," Sarma said.

The statement comes after weeks after the Gauhati High Court intervened in the case of Mumtaz Begum and directed the Assam government to pay interim compensation of Rs 2 lakh to her husband, Mujammel Hoque.

According to the High Court record, Begum had been declared a foreign national by the Foreigners Tribunal, Nagaon.

Sarma's remarks came amid the ongoing political campaign in Assam, with the BJP and Congress trading accusations over issues including land rights, evictions and the treatment of people in vulnerable communities.

The chief minister has repeatedly targeted the previous Congress governments over issues related to land settlement and alleged failures in extending government benefits to eligible residents. 

The BJP's 2026 Assam election manifesto also included a promise to grant land rights to genuine citizens.