"Cannot be a Hindu or Khilonjiya leader, but the biggest liar": Gaurav Gogoi takes a jibe at Himanta Biswa Sarma

Congress MP and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi on Werdnesday, February 4 mounted a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, questioning his political credibility and moral authority while challenging his claims of being a Hindu or indigenous (Khilonjiya) leader.

Addressing party workers, Gogoi accused the Chief Minister of projecting a false image and said Sarma could not claim the mantle of indigenous leadership while supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which has been widely opposed in Assam for its perceived impact on indigenous identity.

“What does he try to portray himself as? Does he believe he is a great Hindu leader or a great Khilonjiya leader?” Gogoi asked, adding that support for CAA disqualifies Sarma from claiming to represent indigenous Assamese interests.

Taking his criticism further, the Congress leader invoked moral values associated with Hinduism, alleging that the Chief Minister had failed to live up to them. “Hindu means satya (truth), but today he is the biggest liar among all Chief Ministers. Hindu means nirbhay (fearless), but he keeps changing sides and political parties. Hindu also means integrity, and that is completely missing,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi also took a swipe at Sarma’s political journey, accusing him of ideological inconsistency and opportunism, remarks that are likely to intensify the already sharp political rivalry ahead of key electoral battles in the state.

In a pointed concluding remark, the APCC chief said the Chief Minister could neither establish himself as a Hindu leader nor as a true indigenous representative, asserting that “he can only remain the owner of 12,000 bighas".