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Assam CM accuses Congress of insulting state’s youth and attempting to undo peace efforts
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge and the Congress party, accusing them of attempting to demoralise Assam’s youth and push them back towards militancy and the proscribed outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) [ULFA (I)].
Reacting sharply to Priyank Kharge’s remarks on the semiconductor industry project, Sarma said the Congress leader’s comments had insulted the aspirations of Assam’s youth and undermined the state’s progress toward peace and industrial development.
“Priyank Kharge has demoralised the youth of Assam. What will happen as a result? The youth will be driven towards ULFA (I), towards militancy. They do not want peace in Assam,” Sarma stated.
The Chief Minister emphasised that his government has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate former militants and bring them into the mainstream, while Congress, according to him, is attempting to reverse this progress.
“Today, we are bringing back the youth of Assam from militancy, and the Congress wants to push them back into the jungles. They want to destroy the peace we have worked so hard to achieve,” he said.
Sarma also took a swipe at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, recalling how he had allegedly disrespected Bharat Ratna awardee Bhupen Hazarika when the music legend was conferred India’s highest civilian honour.
“Priyank Kharge is demoralising Assam’s youth, and his father, Mallikarjun Kharge, had insulted Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. This shows that the Congress has always stood against the interests of Assam,” Sarma remarked.
The Chief Minister further alleged that the Congress leadership seeks to keep Assam economically and socially backward. “They want our youth to return to ULFA (I) and live in the jungles. They do not want industries in Assam. They want to halt our progress and push us back into an era of violence,” he said.
Reiterating his criticism of Priyank Kharge’s comments on the upcoming semiconductor project at Jagiroad, Sarma described them as “anti-national” and a “direct insult” to Assam’s industrial ambitions.
“The BJP government is building a new industrial Assam, while the Congress wants to destroy it. The people of Assam have understood this agenda clearly,” he asserted.