'Openly Encouraged Encroachers And Land Jihadis': Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Slams Congress Leaders Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Over Goalpara Violence

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly inciting violence in the state’s Goalpara district, where a mob of encroachers attacked police and forest officials during an eviction operation in the Paikan Reserve Forest.

“Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday in their meeting openly encouraged encroachers and land Jihadis to encroach lands of the government. He (Rahul Gandhi) did not realise that in the forest land people cannot be rehabilitated. But he has clearly said that you (encroachers) will be rehabilitated in the same place and you will be provided house etc,” the Chief Minister said.

Sarma said the mob, encouraged by such remarks, launched an attack early Thursday morning (17 July).

“Because of those kind of speeches people get encouraged and today morning the evicted people who are already evicted, they started throwing stones and they also started beating police with sticks and various other weapons. Police retaliated and 21 police personal were injured. And obviously in police firing, when we have no other option, open fired and one of the encroachers died on the spot and two encroachers under treatment now,” he said.

He added that police have registered a case and are probing who is “directly and indirectly responsible” for the violence.

“Police will definitely also go through the speeches made by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and if we see there are elements which will invite penal action, police will not hesitate to take action against Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge,” he warned.

On Rahul Gandhi’s earlier claim that Himanta Biswa Sarma will be in jail for corruption, Sharma replied, “What’s the guarantee that Rahul Gandhi  himself won’t be in jail before sending me?”

Sarma hit back at Congress leaders, saying Rahul Gandhi has “conveniently forgotten” that he is out on bail in multiple cases across the country.

Responding to Mallikarjun Kharge’s claim that the state government has not provided jobs, Sarma said that the BJP government has already exceeded its 2021 poll promise of providing one lakh government jobs, and more will be given before the term ends next year.

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