CM Himanta Slams Congress Over Parliament Walkout on Amit Shah

Key Takeaways

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the Congress Party of 'political cowardice' for walking out during Home Minister Amit Shah's parliamentary address on August 12, 2026 .

Sarma charged that Congress fled debate because its 'falsehoods and manufactured narratives' could not survive scrutiny.

Congress has a documented history of parliamentary walkouts during BJP-led proceedings, including during the 2019 Article 370 debate.

Sarma invoked PM Narendra Modi's civilisational and developmental record to contrast BJP's governance against opposition disruption.

As NEDA convenor, Sarma is among the BJP's most prominent voices linking Northeast regional politics to national opposition critiques.

When the Home Minister rose to speak in Parliament, the principal opposition chose to walk out. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, delivered a sharp public rebuke of the Congress Party, accusing it of 'political cowardice and irresponsibility' for refusing to face Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of the House.

Sarma did not mince words. 'A responsible Opposition must have the courage not only to speak, but also to stay and listen,' he wrote, framing the walkout not as protest but as flight from scrutiny. His core charge: Congress knew its 'falsehoods and manufactured narratives would not withstand facts or debate,' and so it ran.

A Pattern Parliament Has Seen Before

This is not the first time the chamber has emptied of opposition benches at a critical moment. Congress MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha in 2019 during Amit Shah's reply on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir — one of the most consequential constitutional moves of the decade. Through the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024), opposition parties staged multiple walkouts over issues ranging from farm laws to surveillance controversies, a pattern the BJP has consistently framed as evasion rather than protest. Sarma's post lands squarely in that long-running argument: that procedural disruption has become the Congress playbook precisely when substantive debate would be most damaging to its position.

Sarma's Broader Indictment

The Assam CM widened his attack beyond the immediate incident. 'By reducing parliamentary engagement to a route for escape, Congress has taken democratic conduct to a new low,' he wrote, invoking the institution itself as the casualty. He closed with a pointed verdict: 'Those who lack the courage to face facts, truth and debate are unfit to be in public life.' Sarma also used the moment to reaffirm the BJP's political narrative — crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with leading India 'to new heights while reclaiming our civilisational identity, heritage and glory,' and asserting that the people of India 'stand firmly' with the Prime Minister. As NEDA convenor and one of the BJP's most combative voices from the Northeast, Sarma has made this kind of institutional critique a signature of his political communication — linking national opposition conduct to a broader argument about who is fit to govern.

Point of View

This kind of national-stage commentary reinforces his standing as a BJP heavyweight beyond Assam, positioning him as a party spokesman on parliamentary conduct. The walkout episode — verified or not in its specifics — will likely be amplified across BJP's communication apparatus as evidence of opposition unseriousness ahead of any major Home Ministry legislation.

NationPress

13 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Congress walk out of Parliament during Amit Shah's speech?

The specific reasons for the walkout on August 12, 2026 have not been officially stated by Congress. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged the party left to avoid having its narratives challenged by facts presented by the Home Minister.

What did Himanta Biswa Sarma say about the Congress walkout?

Sarma called it 'political cowardice and irresponsibility,' saying a responsible opposition must have the courage to stay and listen, and that those who cannot face facts are 'unfit to be in public life.'

Has Congress walked out of Parliament before during BJP speeches?

Yes. Congress MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha in 2019 during Amit Shah's reply on the abrogation of Article 370, and staged multiple walkouts during the 17th Lok Sabha over various issues.

What is Himanta Biswa Sarma's role in national BJP politics?

Beyond serving as Assam Chief Minister, Sarma is the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and is one of the BJP's most prominent national spokespersons, particularly on Northeast affairs and opposition conduct.

What is the BJP's broader critique of Congress in Parliament?

The BJP has consistently argued since 2014 that Congress resorts to procedural walkouts and disruptions rather than engaging in substantive debate, framing such exits as evasion of accountability on key governance and security issues.