Will Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Sue Gaurav Gogoi and Congress Leaders?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Guwahati, Feb 4 (NationPress) Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a strong counter-attack against the Congress party after senior members initiated a political assault on him. He declared his intention to file both civil and criminal defamation lawsuits against Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Bhupesh Baghel, Jitendra Singh Alwar, and Debabrata Saikia.
In a forceful message shared on X, Sarma announced that the legal actions would commence on February 9, accusing the Congress leaders of making “false, malicious and defamatory” remarks about him during a press briefing earlier that day.
Assertively stating that he would not be subdued by political intimidation, the Chief Minister emphasized that the era of “hit-and-run politics” had ended and challenged his adversaries to validate their claims in court.
“If they possess even a shred of bravery or evidence, let them substantiate every accusation in a court of law,” Sarma proclaimed, expressing that he would not be daunted by what he labeled as propaganda, organized defamation, or political theatrics.
He further alleged that the Congress leaders were acting under the influence of the Gandhi family.
This reaction from the Chief Minister followed a press conference where Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, alongside former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel, launched a digital platform named WhoIsHBS.com. This platform aims to scrutinize Sarma’s political journey and governance style, claiming to include documents, videos, and other materials related to the Chief Minister’s public life.
Gogoi, who serves as the Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, stated that this initiative was designed to present “facts” to the people of Assam and encourage accountability.
He mentioned that the Congress party had also published a pamphlet with similar content, which would be disseminated throughout the state as part of a larger outreach strategy.
Highlighting the necessity for public examination of governance and decision-making, Gogoi accused Sarma of misusing his authority, especially as Assam approaches critical political milestones.
Baghel supported these sentiments, underscoring that transparency and accountability are fundamental democratic principles.
Political analysts perceive this sharp exchange as an early indication of intensified conflicts between the ruling BJP and Congress as both parties ramp up their public attacks and counterattacks ahead of the Assembly elections.