"Factory of Jumlas": Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi hits out at BJP

Gogoi labelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "head of the Jumla factory" and said that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was the "regional manager of this factory."

Intensifying his attack, the Congress MP cornered the Prime Minister over claims that he won't tolerate corruption. However, he said, CM Sarma's family in Assam had landholdings in every district.

"The entire country knows that BJP is a factory of Jumlas (empty promises). If Narendra Modi is the head of the Jumla factory, Himanta Biswa Sarma is the regional manager of this factory. PM Modi says- 'Naa khaunga aur naa khane dunga', but in Assam the CM's family has eaten up lands in every district," Gogoi said in a presser held at All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.

"Narendra Modi calls himself a fakir (a saint), but around him, there are people who are continuously progressing," Gogoi added while referring to the allegations levelled by Assam Congress incharge Jitendra Singh Alwar, who accused CM Sarma of building an empire in the state.

The Congress MP further questioned Sarma over his failure as the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance, given the "instability" in Manipur. He also asked about the delay in the committee's report related to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which talks about providing constitutional safeguards to protect the cultural, social, and linguistic identity of the Assamese people.

"Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi ask the CM of Assam how such instability occurred in Manipur despite him being the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance? Now, is the responsibility of North-East not on Himanta Biswa Sarma? President's rule imposed in Manipur, violence and rift everywhere - is this Himanta Biswa Sarma's Chanakya Niti for North-East?" Gogoi remarked.

"Home Minister Amit Shah banged the table in the House and said that the work related to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which the late Rajiv Gandhi could not do, would be done by the BJP government. BJP formed a committee, but till date the report of that committee has not even been signed," he added.

Ahead of the upcoming Assam assembly session, Gogoi said that Sarma's biggest fear was that he would have to sit in the opposition. The Congress MP said that the Assam CM was in a weak position.

"There is fear in his (Himanta Biswa Sarma) eyes, and his position is weak. He fears that he will get a chance to sit in the opposition in the elections to be held after 12 months. The way Himanta Biswa Sarma cleverly removed Sarbananda Sonowal in 2021, and himself sat on the seat of Chief Minister, the same is going to happen with him in the coming month," Gogoi said.

Accusing him of hiding behind the police administration, the Congress MP said that Sarma will require more police protection when he faces public anger.

"When Himanta Biswa Sarma sits in the opposition, he will need more police protection to face the public anger and resentment. Narendra Modi gave the slogan 'Na khaunga, na khane doonga'. But in reality, he made a washing machine whose brand ambassador is Sarma because BJP has forgotten the allegations it levelled against Himanta," Gogoi added.

This comes ahead of PM Modi's visit to Assam today. The Prime Minister will arrive in Guwahati, where he will hold a roadshow.

The Prime Minister will witness the mega Jhumoir performance at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on the evening of February 24, along with the Head of Mission and Ambassadors of 60 countries. Around 8,600 artists from 800 tea gardens of the state will perform the Jhumoir dance.

During his two-day visit, PM Modi will visit the exhibition of Advantage Assam 2.0 at Khanapara Veterinary College field in Guwahati. He will inaugurate the Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 25.

Several Union Ministers, Industrialists, Heads of Mission, and Ambassadors from different countries will participate in the mega Infrastructure & Investment Summit. (ANI)