Rahul Gandhi calls Himanta ‘most corrupt CM’, alleges ‘land ATM’ run for corporates in Assam

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , accusing him of corruption and alleging that the BJP leadership was facilitating large scale transfer of land to corporate groups in the state.

Addressing an election rally in Bokajan constituency of Assam , Gandhi claimed that Sarma was the “most corrupt chief minister in India” , and alleged that the chief minister’s family was also involved in corruption. He said that if the Congress returned to power in the state, strict action would be taken against those responsible.

Gandhi further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Himanta Biswa Sarma were running what he described as a “land ATM” in Assam , accusing them of taking land from ordinary citizens and handing it over to large industrial groups.

According to the Congress leader, around 98,400 bighas of land have allegedly been transferred to three major corporate houses in the state. He claimed that the land originally belonged to local communities and had been taken away from them.

“The land of the people is being taken away and given to big industrialists,” Gandhi said, alleging that the process was benefiting a few powerful companies at the cost of ordinary citizens.

During the rally, Gandhi also referred to popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg , saying that the artist represented the spirit and diversity of Assam. He said Garg stood for the people of the state and symbolised its multicultural identity.

The Congress leader promised that if his party formed the government in Assam, justice related to Garg’s death would be delivered within 100 days .

Highlighting Congress’s political vision for the region, Gandhi said the party believes in decentralisation of power , while accusing the BJP of attempting to control the state from Delhi. He said Congress would fully implement Article 244(A) of the Constitution, ensuring that Karbi Anglong and other Sixth Schedule areas are governed by local people rather than decisions being imposed from Guwahati or New Delhi.

Gandhi also criticised the India-US trade deal , claiming that the agreement had opened Indian markets while reducing taxes on American goods, which he argued would not benefit India.

The remarks came as political campaigning intensifies in Assam ahead of the upcoming electoral battle, with leaders from both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress sharpening their attacks on each other.