Congress Questions Assam CM's Wealth Growth Amid Employment Issues
Concerns Over Wealth Accumulation
Guwahati, March 30: Supriya Shrinate, a spokesperson for the Congress party, raised concerns on Monday regarding the significant increase in the wealth of Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, over the last ten years, attributing much of this growth to his wife's assets.
She criticized Sarma for focusing on enriching his family rather than tackling pressing issues such as unemployment in the state.
During a press briefing in Guwahati, Shrinate stated, "Based on the information provided by the Chief Minister in his election declarations, it is clear that in the past five years, only one individual and his family have become exceedingly wealthy."
She described the situation as an "asset accumulation model" rather than an effective governance model for Assam, noting that Sarma's personal assets grew from Rs 1.02 crore in 2016 to Rs 2.36 crore, while he reportedly has no immovable properties.
In contrast, she highlighted that his wife's assets surged from Rs 1.77 crore to Rs 13.59 crore during the same timeframe.
Shrinate claimed that Sarma's wife's immovable assets increased from Rs 3.5 crore in 2016 to Rs 4.3 crore in 2021, reaching Rs 19.25 crore by 2026.
"The increase in wealth is primarily due to the spouse's assets rather than personal income. We seek clarification on what economic activities justify such a dramatic rise in family wealth while in public service," the Congress leader remarked.
She expressed concern over Sarma's failure to declare any properties in his name, questioning, "Across three affidavits, he has no immovable assets, yet the family's wealth has expanded significantly. Is there a disconnect between political power and ownership accountability?"
Accusing the Chief Minister of corruption and neglecting employment opportunities, she stated, "Sarma seems preoccupied with his family's financial growth. Youth unemployment is rampant, and there are insufficient industries to create jobs."
"The Chief Minister must explain the trajectory of his family's wealth, and the electorate will hold him accountable in the upcoming elections," she concluded.
Referring to a now-deleted AI-generated video allegedly featuring Sarma, Shrinate, who also leads the party's social media initiatives, remarked, "The Congress will not engage in an aggressive social media strategy that involves posting misleading content."
"Social media should serve as a platform for conveying the truth directly to the public, and we will adhere to that principle," she emphasized.
She accused the ruling BJP of creating a misleading narrative through social media, asserting, "The reality is starkly different, and the public is aware of it."