Assam contest not BJP vs Congress, but ‘honest vs dishonest’: Pawan Khera

Guwahati, April 1: Congress leader and chairman of the AICC media department, Pawan Khera, on Wednesday, launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of “consistently misleading the public” over the past decade.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Khera invoked a symbolic “lie detector” analogy to question the credibility of the Chief Minister’s statements.

“If what Himanta Biswa Sarma says is false, the red light turns on; if it is true, the green light turns on. But over the past 10 years, not once has the green light appeared,” Khera said, alleging that the Chief Minister has “rarely spoken the truth”.

He intensified his criticism by questioning Sarma’s political shift and ideological positioning.

“After considering Narendra Modi as his political mentor, one must ask how often has he spoken the truth? The answer, unfortunately, is never,” he said.

Raising a series of governance-related issues, Khera accused the BJP-led government in Assam of failing to deliver on key promises.

He alleged that commitments such as granting tribal status to six communities and ensuring employment opportunities remain unfulfilled.

“Only a small fraction of people have secure employment today. The promises made to tea garden workers remain unfulfilled,” he said.

Khera also targeted the government’s claims on tackling illegal immigration.

Citing comparative figures, he said, “During the UPA government, nearly 88,792 illegal immigrants were expelled over ten years. In contrast, the NDA has managed to deport only 2,566 in almost five years.”

He alleged that the government’s narrative on infiltration was misleading and politically motivated.

On the health sector, Khera painted a grim picture, claiming severe shortages in medical infrastructure.

“There is a 97% shortage of surgeons and a 94% shortage of physicians in Assam. This reflects the reality behind the government’s claims of development,” he said.

He also alleged that thousands of government schools had been shut during Sarma’s tenure, raising concerns about the state of public education.

Further, Khera alleged disproportionate growth in the assets of individuals linked to the ruling establishment, questioning transparency and accountability, though he did not cite specific instances.

On allegations of links with Pakistan involving Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Khera challenged the BJP to act if evidence exists.

“If there is any proof, conduct a proper investigation and take action. Why make allegations without following through?” he asked.

Referring to singer Zubeen Garg, Khera said that seeking justice should not be politicised.

“Demanding justice is not politics, but a responsibility. Everyone wants justice, and raising that demand should not be twisted for political gain,” he said.

In a broader political critique, Khera claimed that the electoral contest in Assam reflected a split within the Congress legacy.

“The contest here is not between Congress and BJP. It is between the Congress of the honest and brave, and the Congress of the dishonest and the cowards,” he said, taking a swipe at Sarma’s past association with the party.

He also accused the BJP of diverting public attention through issues such as the Uniform Civil Code and identity politics.

“These are distractions. The real issues like livelihood, inflation and governance failures are being sidelined,” he said.

Khera extended his criticism to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that economic decisions, including price hikes during the election period, reflected misplaced priorities.

“If prices are rising during elections, imagine what will happen afterward,” he said.

As campaigning intensifies, Khera’s remarks underscore the increasingly confrontational tone of political discourse in Assam, with both sides trading sharp allegations ahead of the polls.