Assam's Political Temperature Rises as Rivals Engage in War of Words

Guwahati:Assam’s political temperature rose on Thursday as the war of words betweenChief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmaand APCC chiefGaurav Gogoishowed no signs of easing.A day after a civil court barred three Congress leaders, including Gogoi, from making fresh remarks against Sarma until they appear before it on March 9, the APCC chief hit back. He said he would rather “fight on the streets than in the court.”Gogoi made the remarks while speaking to the media during the second phase of the ‘Samay Paribartan Yatra’ in Biswanath district. He accused the chief minister of lacking political courage and resorting to legal action to silence his opponents.“How can someone without honour be defamed?” Gogoi said. He alleged that Sarma had approached the court out of political insecurity. “If he has courage, he should fight us face-to-face in the court of the people,” he added.Gogoi said the Congress could also file cases. However, he said he believed in public conscience and political struggle on the streets. “I want to fight Himanta Biswa Sarma on the streets, not in the courtroom. The people of Assam will decide,” he said.He further alleged that political leaders who approach courts to counter criticism show weakness. “When leaders run to courts to silence opponents, it reflects fear of democratic debate,” Gogoi said.The Congress leader also accused the Assam Police of bias. He claimed that the police summon two Congress IT cell workers to Dispur police station every day over what he described as a motivated complaint.Gogoi alleged that the police act swiftly against Congress workers and opposition leaders. In contrast, he said, ordinary citizens often struggle to get FIRs registered. He cited the example of women from rural areas who fail to get prompt police action on serious complaints.Several senior Congress leaders attended the Samay Paribartan Yatra rally. They included Debabrata Saikia, Ripun Bora, Bhupen Kumar Borah and Sibamoni Bora.As part of the programme, Gogoi unveiled a statue of Babu Chabilal Upadhyaya at Balipukhuri. Addressing party workers, he said the party had received a warm response wherever the yatra had travelled so far. He added that public support would decide the political outcome in Assam.Related