"I love you, but can’t go to jail for you”: Assam Congress chief Bhupen Bora’s version of Himanta Biswa Sarma’s switch to BJP

President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Bhupen Borah on January 20 claimed that Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of fear of facing incarceration. Borah asserted that Sarma expressed concerns about potential legal troubles, particularly the fear of going to jail.

Adding a personal twist to the narrative, Borah recounted a conversation of Sarma with his wife, who allegedly told him, "I love you, I can do anything for you but I can't go to jail for you."

Bhupen Borah said just two days after this exchange, Sarma made the decision to switch allegiance and join the BJP.

Borah, speaking on the circumstances surrounding Sarma's switch, revealed a political backdrop dating back to 2014. At that time, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia announced in Guwahati that corruption cases, including the Louis Berger and Saradha scams, would be reopened. Simultaneously, Sarma's wife was summoned twice to the CBI office in Kolkata.

Highlighting the sequence of events, Borah claimed that Sarma approached him in Delhi two days before joining the BJP. Borah advised Sarma to wait, expressing confidence in their future within the Congress party after the tenure of Tarun Gogoi. However, Sarma allegedly disclosed a different motive, stating that he had to join the BJP as he saw no future for himself in Congress.

Quoting Sarma's conversation with his wife, Borah stated, "I can die for you, but I cannot go to jail for you. I love you and can die for you, but I cannot go to jail for you." This, according to Borah was the pivotal reason behind Sarma's decision to align with the BJP.

Borah criticized Sarma for now leveling corruption allegations against the Congress, stating that Sarma himself had joined the BJP due to the fear of legal repercussions.