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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attacked by Congress workers, alleges Assam minister; calls it 'assault on democracy'
NEW DELHI: Assam minister Pijush Hazarika on Monday alleged that chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was attacked by workers during an event, accusing the party of attempting to "sabotage democracy" in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Hazarika claimed that Congress-backed individuals targeted the chief minister with bottles. 'This is how Assam Congress tried to sabotage democracy in Assam. Today, their goons attacked the chief minister of Assam with bottles; tomorrow, these same goons will launch grenades?' he said. Calling the alleged attackers "cowards," Hazarika warned of strict consequences. 'These cowards will not be spared, both electorally and legally,' he said, specifically tagging Gaurav Gogoi. The alleged incident has sparked sharp political reactions, with the ruling condemning the attack and demanding action against those involved. There was no immediate response from the Congress on the minister's allegations.
Scroll.in
a day ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Assam Congress writes to PM about alleged irregularities in dairy farming scheme, CM denies claims
The Assam Congress on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging 'serious irregularities' in a state government-supported dairy farming scheme. Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, in the letter to Modi, expressed 'serious concerns' about the Assistance to Entrepreneur for Establishment of Commercial Dairy Farming scheme. Under the scheme, individuals who want to set up commercial dairy farms or expand their existing farms are given assistance in securing bank loans, and are also given direct financial aid from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state. However, Gogoi alleged that several beneficiaries of the scheme appeared to be family members or associates of state ministers and MLAs. He further claimed that 'long-standing dairy farmers, particularly in districts like Bongaigaon, have reportedly been overlooked despite having applied multiple times and fulfilling the eligibility requirements'. Serious irregularities in Assam's dairy scheme exposed, genuine milk producers left out, while kin of ministers & MLAs make the list. Assam PCC President @GauravGogoiAsm writes to PM seeking a review. — Assam Congress (@INCAssam) June 28, 2025 The Congress leader added that the exclusion of experienced dairy entrepreneurs raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process. 'Equally alarming is the response from the Chief Minister of Assam [Himanta Biswa Sarma], who chose to justify the inclusion of minister's family members in the list of dairy scheme beneficiaries,' Gogoi said, adding that this 'open endorsement of political favouritism' had fulled public outrage. Claiming that it reflected a 'serious breach of oath', the Congress leader added that the alleged irregularities cast doubt on the state government's adherence to ethical governance and the rule of law. Gogoi, in the letter to the prime minister, also raised concerns about the Gorukhuti agricultural project. The project, launched in 2021, was aimed at promoting agricultural development and self-reliance through modern farming techniques in 77,000 bighas of land in Sipajhar. The project also included the procurement of high-yield Gir cows from Gujarat. Citing official records, Gogoi in his letter to Modi claimed that the cows were allocated to several elected representatives, including a firm owned by the wife of state minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, and sitting legislators Bhupen Pegu, Utpal Borah and Diganta Kalita, along with MP Dilip Saikia. 'The diversion of resources and livestock under a project supported by over Rs 5.5 crore in public funds compromises the very objective of government programmes designed to promote inclusive development,' he said. '…these actions go against the very principles of transparency, accountability, and equitable access.' Gogoi urged the prime minister to direct an inquiry into the matter. In September 2021, over 1,000 families, most of them Bengali-origin Muslims, had also been evicted from Dhalpur in Assam's Darrang district to make way for the Gorukhuti project. The evictions had led to protests from local residents, during which two persons were killed. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma denies claims In response to the allegations, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed any wrongdoing and claimed that the Gir cows had begun dying due to climate incompatibility, India Today NE reported. BJP MLA Padma Hazarika, who was heading the project, had requested private persons to purchase the cattle due to a lack of buyers and fearing further losses, Sarma claimed. 'We should thank them for buying,' he said. 'Otherwise, there were no takers for these sick cattle.' The chief minister also accused the media of sensationalising the issue and comparing the situation to a 'cattle auction', India Today NE reported. He claimed that media houses were ignoring more serious issues, including illegal cow smuggling and security threats. Press bodies condemn state minister's remarks Meanwhile, the Press Club of India, the Gauhati Press Club and the Media Association of Assam has demanded an apology from Mallabaruah for his 'insulting' remarks about a journalist during a press conference on Friday. While responding to a question about the Gir cows asked by a journalist from the Sadin-Pratidin media group, the state minister reportedly referred to him as ' inferior,' Newslaundry reported. 'I will not speak to inferior people like you,' Newslaundry quoted Mallabaruah as saying. 'I will answer when your owner asks me a question.' Targeting journalists for merely asking uncomfortable questions has become a routine phenomenon for politicians and others who are in power and accountable to the people. Such behaviour is against the spirit of a democratic nation. We endorse the Gauhati Press Club statement and… — Press Club of India (@PCITweets) June 28, 2025 The Media Association of Assam demanded an apology from the state minister for his remarks, Northeast News reported. Media Association of Assam's President Hiren Chandra Kalita and Secretary-General Chandra Kumar Shaikia condemned the remarks and called on all journalists to boycott Mallabaruah until he apologises. The Gauhati Press Club also condemned the recurring incidents of journalists facing backlash from political leaders when faced with uncomfortable questions. 'From MPs, MLAs to ministers and other office bearers of different parties, we have seen an alarming trend of targeting the journalist who poses a question that puts them in a difficult position,' Susmita Goswami, Gauhati Press Club chief, said on Friday. On Saturday, the Press Club of India said that it endorsed the Gauhati Press Club statement and urged political leaders to refrain from such undignified behaviour. 'Targeting journalists for merely asking uncomfortable questions has become a routine phenomenon for politicians and others who are in power and accountable to the people,' it said in a statement. On Sunday, Mallabaruah apologised for his remarks about the journalist amid the mounting backlash, The Assam Tribune reported. '...I have not intentionally insulted any journalist," he claimed. "Yet, if my words have hurt someone's sentiments, I truly regret it." Saying that he did not intend to belittle journalists as a whole, the minister acknowledged that his choice of words was inappropriate and hurtful. However, he claimed that his remarks were directed at a particular journalist from a specific news channel whom he accused of asking repetitive questions with an agenda driven by the owner of the channel.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Congress president Gogoi writes to Modi, flags ‘political favouritism' in Assam dairy scheme implementation
GUWAHATI: Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising concerns over alleged favouritism and irregularities in the implementation of a government-backed dairy scheme. In his letter, Gogoi stated that the scheme provides a subsidy of up to Rs 50 lakh for each beneficiary. 'The objective is to promote genuine entrepreneurship in the dairy sector and strengthen milk production. However, multiple reports and official documentation point to irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries,' Gogoi, also the Jorhat MP, wrote. He pointed out that several recipients of the scheme's benefits appeared to be family members or associates of ministers and MLAs, while long-standing dairy farmers were reportedly overlooked despite having applied multiple times and fulfilling eligibility requirements. He said the exclusion of experienced dairy entrepreneurs raised concerns about fairness and transparency in the selection process.
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Himanta says will tighten cattle slaughter law after series of arrests bring issue to centre stage in Assam
Politics over cattle and beef have taken a centre-stage in Assam after a string of incidents in which suspected cattle remains have been recovered near places of worship, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma saying Friday that the government would tighten the enforcement of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, while Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has alleged BJP involvement in these incidents ahead of next year's elections. In the past two weeks, at least 72 people have been arrested in Dhubri, Goalpara and Lakhimpur after three separate incidents of suspected cattle remains being recovered from near temples in the first two places, and near a namghar (community prayer hall) in Lakhimpur. Sarma Friday referred to these as an attempt to create unrest 'since Eid ul Zuha.' Speaking at a press conference, he said that all these incidents have taken place in 'sensitive areas.' 'When we look at all these incidents and wherever they have taken place, they are near localities where there have been arrangements of eating beef during Eid ul Zuha. Our cattle preservation bill says that if Hindu people stay in an area, or if there are temples or namghars, this kind of meat cannot be consumed within 5 kilometres radius near these. That is a legal provision,' he said. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, that he was referring to has a section which prohibits the sale of beef and beef products in areas 'which are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra, or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or area as may be prescribed by the competent authority.' Sarma said that the state government would prepare an SOP to stop qurbani (sacrifice) of cattle within a 5-km radius of such premises saying the enforcement of this 'can be a permanent solution.' 'Dhubri has one of the leading gurudwaras in the country. And there are many temples near that… But this time around Eid, the district administration had not enforced this provision the way it should have been done… So, we have directed district administrations that this significant section in our cattle preservation bill has to be enforced very strictly… This can be a permanent solution. If the 5 km provision is implemented, no one can eat and no one can slaughter within Dhubri town,' he said. Last week, he had also alleged that beef is being 'weaponised' against Hindus in the state to force them away from places. Hitting out against these developments, MP and Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi has accused Sarma of 'Jinnah-like politics' and alleged a BJP role in these incidents. 'There should be investigation into all these people who have been held so far on who gave them this idea, who gave them the advice. Those who have done it have done an offence, but who gave them the idea?… Elections are close, failures have to be hidden, and this is their whole strategy,' said Gogoi on Friday. 'There are some criminal minded people within them. Within the BJP, RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, there are some criminal minded people who seek to do these kinds of things before elections. Our aim is not to let a communal environment be created inside Assam… We will not let him do his 'Jinnah-like' politics,' he added.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt probes surge in foreign-linked Fb accounts ahead of polls
1 2 Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the govt has initiated a forensic audit of about 5,000 Facebook accounts activated in the last one month, raising concerns over a surge in foreign-linked accounts, which he alleges are being used to destabilize Assam and influence its political discourse. Sarma said a detailed forensic study was conducted on 2,092 accounts, revealing that a significant number of these were primarily operated from Islamic nations. Sarma said among the audited Facebook profiles, 618 were from Bangladesh, 236 from Pakistan, 88 from Kuwait, 54 from France, 35 from Afghanistan, 16 from Indonesia, 10 from Jordan, eight from Iraq, six each from Brazil and Egypt, four each from Germany and Albania, three from Italy, two each from Australia and Palestine and one each from Canada, Colombia and Libya. Sarma said these accounts share Islamic fundamentalist content, including pro-Palestine material, Iran-related posts, and content about Bangladesh's chief advisor Prof Md Yunus. He added that the central govt has been notified about this situation, describing it as a matter of "national security". Sarma added that these accounts also have been exclusively monitoring the activities of a specific Assam Congress leader and the party's state unit pages during the past month. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Вот что поза во сне говорит о вашем характере! Удивительные Новости Undo "It is surprising that they do not comment on or like posts by Rahul Gandhi or even the Indian National Congress. They are only focused on a particular leader and the Assam Congress," Sarma said. "For the first time, there is so much foreign involvement in Assam politics in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections," he said. "Some accounts are private, and deeper investigations are required. It is a serious security concern that over 5,000 social media accounts were opened in a month, and they are commenting and liking posts related to Assam," he added. Sarma said some individuals from outside have rented accommodation in two Guwahati localities and have established connections with YouTubers and social media influencers for this purpose. "Surveillance is being kept on them. Fundamentalist elements have entered Assam and are active in the run-up to the elections," he said. He added that these account holders might be connected via WhatsApp and other messaging applications, as they operate from different time zones and receive alerts about fundamentalist content. He added that Assam's Muslims, whether indigenous or settled migrants, would not share such content. He said Assam and the northeast have consistently been targets of international fundamentalism, with separating the 'chicken neck' to integrate it with Bangladesh remaining an 'unfinished agenda' for extremists. "We are in a very critical situation and the entire matter is being looked into from the national security angle," Sarma said.
