Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced plans to pursue civil and criminal defamation cases against Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Bhupesh Baghel, Jitendra Singh Alwar, and Debabrata Saikia. Sarma criticized the Congress leaders for allegedly making false and defamatory remarks against him during a recent press conference. He emphasized his determination not to yield to political pressures and challenged his accusers to substantiate their claims in court. Sarma condemned what he described as coordinated slander and political theatrics, accusing the Congress leaders of acting on behalf of the Gandhi family.
The Chief Minister’s response followed a press conference where Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, accompanied by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, introduced a digital platform called WhoIsHBS.com. Gogoi explained that the platform aimed to scrutinize Sarma’s political career and governance approach, presenting various documents and videos related to the Chief Minister’s public life. He highlighted the initiative’s goal of providing factual information to the people of Assam and fostering accountability. The Congress also unveiled a pamphlet with similar content for wider distribution across the state as part of an outreach program.
Gogoi raised concerns about alleged misuse of authority and stressed the importance of public oversight in governance and decision-making processes, especially as Assam approaches significant political milestones. Baghel echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability in a democratic setup. The escalating verbal sparring between the BJP-led government and the Congress is viewed by political analysts as an early indication of the intensifying battle lines ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
