Himanta targets Congress over Rejaul’s ‘education jihad’ remarks, questions silence of Gaurav Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 16 launched a sharp attack on the Congress over controversial remarks made by former All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) president Rejaul Karim Sarkar on “Education Jihad,” stating that he should have been restrained much earlier by the Jorhat Member of Parliament.

The Chief Minister said that following Sarkar’s resignation, attempts are now being made to project him as a “hero” of minority communities, raising serious questions about political accountability and leadership responsibility. 

Sarma remarked that such statements and the subsequent political positioning reflect poorly on those who chose to remain silent when corrective action was needed.

Also Read: ‘Districts like Bongaigaon, Dhubri must have DCs from minority community’: Rejaul Karim

Rejaul Karim Sarkar, former AAMSU president, on January 15 called for greater representation of minority communities in top administrative posts. Addressing a cultural programme at the Tapattary High School playground in Bongaigaon district, he asserted that districts such as Sivasagar, Bongaigaon, and Dhubri should have Deputy Commissioners from minority communities.

The programme was organised by the Tapattary Regional Youth Club in the minority-dominated Tapattary area and saw participation from a large number of local residents and youth. While the event featured cultural performances, it also emerged as a platform for strong political and social messaging centred on representation, education, and community rights.

In his address, Sarkar emphasised that education is the most powerful tool for the empowerment of minority communities. Urging parents to prioritise education, he said financial constraints should not be used as a justification for depriving children of learning opportunities, stressing that long-term progress depends on educational advancement.