Akhil Gogoi hits out at Rezaul Karim Sarkar over ‘Sivasagar to Dhubri’ remark, warns against deliberate provocation

Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on Sunday, January 11 reacted sharply to a controversial remark allegedly made by Rezaul Karim Sarkar, who joined the Congress party earlier in the day, stating that he would “turn Sivasagar into Dhubri and Dhubri into Sivasagar.” Gogoi warned that any deliberate attempt to provoke social or political discord would be strongly opposed.

Responding to the statement, Akhil Gogoi said that if the remark was made unintentionally, it could be viewed differently. However, he asserted that if the comment was deliberate, he would oppose it “in the strongest possible terms.”

The Sivsagar legislator further said that Rezaul Karim Sarkar must, above all, sever what he described as his close association with the Chief Minister. Gogoi alleged that during eviction drives, whenever questions are raised before the Chief Minister, he frequently responds by saying that he has spoken to Rezaul Karim Sarkar and the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU).

The remarks came on a day when Rezaul Karim Sarkar, former president of AAMSU, formally joined the Congress party ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Sarkar joined the Congress at a programme held at the Manabendra Sharma Complex in Guwahati in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi. Several senior leaders of the Pradesh Congress were present at the event, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Manoj Chauhan.

Along with Sarkar, several former vice-presidents of AAMSU also joined the Congress. Rup Kumar Medhi, a leader from the Mising community who had long served as president of the MMK, was among those who entered the party.

The Congress also witnessed the induction of several other prominent figures, including BJP Political Affairs Committee member Manoj Kumar Mahanta, Chila Basumatary, Arun Basumatary, Mrinmoy Kalita, Alakesh Medhi, and others, signalling a significant political development ahead of the crucial 2026 polls.