Guwahati, April 2 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging widespread corruption and accusing the BJP leadership of running a “land ATM” in the state.
Addressing an election rally in Bokajan in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, Rahul Gandhi claimed that land belonging to ordinary people was being systematically taken and handed over to large corporate houses.
He alleged that the Chief Minister, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was facilitating this process.
Calling Sarma “the most corrupt Chief Minister in India”, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also targeted the alleged involvement of the Chief Minister’s family in corrupt practices.
He asserted that if voted to power, a Congress government would initiate action against those involved.
Rahul Gandhi further claimed that nearly 98,400 bighas of land in Assam had been allocated to three major corporate groups, arguing that such policies reflect a governance model tilted in favour of big business rather than local communities.
The Congress leader was campaigning for party candidate Raton Engti ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Assam is scheduled to go to the polls in a single phase on April 9, with results to be declared on May 4.
The rally is part of an intense political campaign in the poll-bound state, where the Congress has been targeting the BJP government on issues of land, alleged corruption, and governance, while the ruling party has been highlighting development and welfare initiatives.
The Assam Assembly elections are expected to witness a keen contest between the BJP-led alliance and the Congress, with both sides stepping up attacks as campaigning gathers momentum.
Polling will be held in a single phase on April 9. The results will be announced on May 4.
–IANS
tdr/pgh