Political Tensions Escalate in Assam Amid Nagaon Bypoll Campaign
Allegations Fly Over Stone-Pelting Incident
Security forces deployed to control the situation after a Congress convoy was allegedly attacked in Samaguri. (AT Photo)
Guwahati, Sept 22: On Monday, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress general secretary K C Venugopal exchanged accusations regarding a reported stone-pelting incident targeting a Congress convoy during the Nagaon Assembly bypoll campaign in Samaguri.
In response to Venugopal's claim that Sarma had incited his supporters to attack political rivals, which he labeled a 'brutal stone-pelting attack,' the Chief Minister dismissed it as a 'reality check' for what he termed 'Congress loose cannons.'
Sarma contended that the altercation was rooted in internal conflicts within the Congress party and urged its state leadership to address these issues rather than deflect blame onto others.
He stated, 'This incident fundamentally reflects a clash among rival factions within the Congress. The party's state leadership must acknowledge its internal disputes and manage its factions instead of conveniently shifting the blame elsewhere...'
Highlighting the political landscape of Samaguri, Sarma noted that the constituency is represented by Congress MLA Tanzil Hussain, the son of Dhubri Congress MP Rakibul Hussain.
Recalling the previous Assembly election, Sarma pointed out that Congress had garnered 145,212 votes in the constituency, compared to the BJP's 36,902.
He emphasized that political rivalries should not disrupt public peace and called on Congress leaders to control their factions.
In contrast, Congress accused the BJP and the Assam government of orchestrating the alleged attack.
Earlier, Venugopal criticized the BJP government for employing 'brute force and muscle power' to create a hostile environment ahead of the elections.
He also expressed concern over the Election Commission of India's silence regarding the incident, questioning whether it would take action against those responsible.
Venugopal asked, 'Has the ECI forgotten that during elections, they are responsible for law and order in the area? Will the ECI dare to take a single decision to punish the ruling regime for their blatantly criminal, unconstitutional and violent means to subvert the elections?'
The Congress convoy was reportedly attacked with stones while en route to a public meeting at Barma.
Among those in the convoy were Lok Sabha MPs Rakibul Hussain and Gaurav Gogoi, Congress Legislature Party leader Wazed Ali Choudhury, Assam Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora, and several party MLAs.
The alleged attack followed a black flag protest by individuals gathered along the convoy's path. Police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the protesters, while stones were reportedly thrown at CRPF personnel present at the scene. Security forces eventually managed to restore order.