Congress leader Ripun Bora blames Himanta Biswa Sarma for Assam's decline, demands public apology

At a press conference today, former Rajya Sabha Member Ripun Bora strongly criticized the ruling Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for its handling of various critical issues in the state. He argued that Assam’s position has drastically deteriorated under the BJP’s rule and questioned the Chief Minister's promises to transform the state into one of the top five best states in India.

 

Bora pointed out that Assam’s per capita income remains among the lowest in the country. With a per capita income of Rs 1,35,787, Assam ranks 30th among the 33 Indian states, lagging behind neighboring states like Meghalaya and Sikkim. This decline in per capita income, he stated, has worsened the purchasing power of citizens and slowed down the state's development. Despite repeated assurances from the government, Bora questioned how Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma intends to improve the economic conditions when the state’s per capita income continues to fall year after year.

 

The former Member of Rajya Sabha also highlighted the alarming statistics regarding Assam’s healthcare system. The state has the highest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the country, with an IMR of 36 per 1,000 live births and MMR of 195 per 100,000 live births, both exceeding national averages. Bora emphasized that no state can hope to develop without addressing the health of its people, and Assam’s healthcare system remains in a fragile state under the current administration.

 

Bora also underscored Assam’s disastrous ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI), where it stands 31st out of 33 states with a score of just 0.615. He pointed out that, despite being located in a region with challenging geographical barriers and remote areas, neighboring states have achieved higher HDI scores. This, he argued, indicates the failure of the Assam government to prioritize human development, further exacerbating the state's backwardness.

 

In a damning critique of law and order, Bora referred to Assam’s position as the leader in crimes against women. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports show that under the BJP's rule, Assam registered 18,262 cases of rape and rape-related deaths, the highest in the country. Despite a slight decrease in recent years, the state still has the highest crime rate against women in India. Bora claimed that the failure of the police and investigative agencies, especially after Hianta Biswa Sarma took charge of the Home Department, has contributed to the worsening situation. He questioned how the state can progress when women continue to face rampant abuse and injustice.

 

Bora also highlighted Assam’s dismal performance in education, stating that the state has the highest school dropout rate in India. According to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report, Assam’s dropout rate at the Lower Primary school stage is 6%, compared to the national average of 1.5 per cent. The dropout rate at the Secondary school level stands at 20.3 per cent, far higher than the national average of 12.6 per cent. Bora criticized the state government’s failure to improve the education system, despite the Chief Minister holding the education portfolio for a long period.

 

Further, Bora expressed concern over the rising unemployment rate in Assam. In 2016, when the BJP government took charge, the number of registered unemployed youth was 23 lakh. By 2023-24, this number had increased to 32 lakh. Bora argued that the government’s promise to create jobs for one lakh youth each year has failed miserably, with the number of unemployed youth rising by 7 lakh in just five years. This failure, he said, reflects poorly on the government’s ability to address the youth’s employment needs.

 

Bora also focused on Assam’s growing debt crisis, which has reached an alarming Rs 1,55,000 crore as of December 2024. He criticized Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for accumulating massive debt, spending nearly Rs 4,000 crore annually from the state’s tax revenues to repay it. Bora argued that this excessive borrowing has led Assam’s economy to the brink of collapse, and citizens are left bearing the burden of this debt. He questioned how the state can prosper when it is drowning in debt.

 

Lastly, Bora criticized the central government’s role in hindering Assam’s development. He mentioned that Assam is still awaiting Rs 85,000 crore as part of its GST share from the central government. Additionally, around Rs 2,700 crore is pending for flood damage repair under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). He highlighted that the delayed release of funds from the central government has further hampered the state's development, leaving critical projects stalled and unaddressed.

 

In conclusion, Bora called for an immediate apology from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for misleading the people of Assam with promises of development that have not materialised. He questioned how the Chief Minister plans to transform Assam into one of the top five best states in India given the grim reality of the state’s economy, education system, law and order, and healthcare. Bora urged the Chief Minister to take responsibility for the failures of his administration and to offer a clear plan of action for the future.