Guwahati, Feb 25: Congress has launched a broadside against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of large-scale corruption, illegal land acquisitions, and links to rat-hole mining operations. The attack came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Assam to inaugurate the Advantage Assam 2.0 business summit and participate in the grand Jhumoir Binandini 2025 celebration—where 8,000 performers showcased Assam’s rich cultural heritage.

At a joint press conference on Monday, Congress general secretary in-charge of the State Jitendra Singh, Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and Lok Sabha members Gaurav Gogoi, Rakibul Hussain and Pradyut Bordoloi said the “double dhokha (betrayal) government” would be held accountable for its “sins”, in the Assembly election next year.

At the press conference, Mr Singh asked “What magic lamp did Mr Modi give the Chief Minister” that the latter, his family members and associates had become business tycoons. “Himanta Biswa Sarma has built an entire empire in Assam. The Chief Minister, his family members and associates own many tea gardens, including Kanchanjuri and Radha Krishna tea estates, news portals, a big outlet of McDonald’s, international schools and lots of land. A lot of land has been purchased in tribal areas, including Majuli, Kamrup, Guwahati, Nagaon, Golaghat, where land cannot be bought,” he said.

“We appreciate your participation in the Jhumuir dance, but while you celebrate Assam’s culture, the tea community struggles for survival. Why is the tea industry being systematically forced into the hands of those close to the Assam CM? Who is really benefiting from this silent takeover” Assam Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi said.

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, ““Modi ji has set up a factory of ‘jumlas (rhetoric)‘ in Assam, whose mastermind is the most corrupt chief minister of the BJP. Recently, Congress leaders in Assam were attacked both ways – politically and physically! The public will respond to these attacks by forming a Congress government after one year.

At the press conference, Mr Singh also alleged that rat-hole mining was happening under the nose of Assam Chief Minister and wondered why no action was being taken against the illegal mining.

Mr Borah said that just before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Mr. Modi had promised that the daily wage of 11 lakh tea workers of the State would be increased to ₹351 but today, it was between ₹220 and ₹250. The promise of granting Scheduled Tribe status to six communities, including Ahoms and tea garden workers, remains unfulfilled, he added.

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