‘Absent on Republic and Independence Day’: Himanta claims Gaurav Gogoi would have been a foreigner if not in politics

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 27 launched a sharp political attack on Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi over his absence during Republic Day celebrations in the state, questioning his commitment to Assam and making pointed remarks about his family background.

Reacting to Gogoi’s absence, the Chief Minister said that this was not an isolated instance. 

“Usually, Gaurav Gogoi does not stay in the state on Republic Day or Independence Day. This is not the first time. If one observes earlier occasions as well, he was never present on these national days,” Sarma said. 

He went on to claim that three members of Gogoi’s family are foreigners and remarked that when three out of four family members are foreigners, the remaining one is compelled to follow the majority. Sarma further alleged that had Gogoi not entered politics, he too would have been a foreigner by now.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing a large public gathering at Mahmara in Charaideo district, where a cheque distribution programme was organised under the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Scheme at the Garaimari Rural Sports Project complex.

At the event, Dr Sarma distributed cheques to 25,551 women beneficiaries. The programme began with a welcome address by Mahmara MLA and Cabinet Minister Jogen Mohan. Guardian Minister Bimal Bora, MLA Dharmeswar Konwar, and former MP and MLA Tapan Kumar Gogoi were also present.

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Addressing the gathering, Sarma said the welfare schemes implemented by the BJP government were unprecedented and had gone far beyond what previous governments had delivered. He stressed that the entrepreneurship scheme was not limited to providing ₹10,000 as one-time assistance but was aimed at transforming beneficiaries into “Lakhpati Didis.” 

He informed that 1,203 women in the Mahmara area had already achieved lakhpati status and said beneficiaries who received ₹10,000 on Monday would later be given ₹25,000 and ₹50,000 in subsequent phases.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several development projects, including the upgradation of the Garaimari Rural Sports Project at a cost of ₹12 crore and road construction projects, including the Sonari–Bhajo–Kakatibari–Moran road.

Concluding his address, Dr Sarma said Mahmara had witnessed significant development under the leadership of Jogen Mohan and appealed to voters, particularly women, to ensure his victory in the upcoming Assembly elections to maintain the momentum of development. He urged voters to support Mohan so that welfare schemes could continue without interruption. Political observers view the Chief Minister’s remarks as a clear signal that Jogen Mohan is likely to be the BJP’s candidate from Mahmara in the next Assembly elections.