Akhil Gogoi would accuse even Mahatma Gandhi of murder if questioned: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, March 29, slammed Akhil Gogoi over his allegations against BJP’s Sivasagar candidate Kushal Dowari, questioning the basis of Gogoi’s claims and accusing him of repeatedly branding political opponents as criminals.

Addressing the media in Diphu, Sarma said that Akhil Gogoi has a pattern of accusing anyone contesting against him of serious crimes, including multiple murders. He questioned why Gogoi had not taken action if he had prior knowledge of such alleged crimes.

The Chief Minister also raised the issue of the death of Pranab Boro, questioning Gogoi’s role and response, and alleging that the matter had not been raised in the Assam Legislative Assembly over the past five years. Sarma asked why Gogoi had not publicly addressed the issue or provided clarity on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“As far as I know, Akhil Gogoi is responsible for the death of Pranab Boro. Everyone knows that in the heart of Guwahati, Boro was driven to set himself on fire during a protest led by KMSS. He had been prepared for such an extreme step from the previous night,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister further criticised Gogoi for not raising the issue of Boro’s death in the Assam Legislative Assembly over the past five years, questioning his silence on the matter.

Sarma also defended BJP candidate Kushal Dowari, stating that he is not a first-time contestant and had previously been elected twice as an MLA from Demow. He argued that criticism of Dowari amounted to questioning the judgment of the electorate.

“Kushal Dowari is not a first-time candidate. The people of Demow elected him twice as MLA. If Akhil Gogoi now calls him unfit or criticises him, does that mean the people of Demow made a wrong choice?” Sarma said.

In his remarks, Sarma further accused Gogoi of influencing youth during earlier protests in Assam, alleging that such movements encouraged disruptive activities, including burning tyres and damaging railway infrastructure.

Continuing his criticism, Sarma said Gogoi frequently levels allegations against others while avoiding scrutiny of his own actions. He questioned whether such an approach would resonate with voters in the state.

The Chief Minister also made remarks suggesting that Gogoi dismisses criticism from any quarter, stating that he would counter even widely respected figures if they questioned him.