Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has launched a direct and sharp attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of running the state through fear, threats, and what he called a “king-style system.” Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Hamren in Karbi Anglong, Gogoi said the Congress is preparing to build an Assam free from fear and anxiety, and will not let people be silenced by intimidation.
Gogoi said the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has started a statewide public awareness campaign to counter what he described as pressure politics by the BJP government. According to him, many people in Karbi Anglong and other tribal areas of the state have now begun speaking up, despite fear created by the ruling party. He said this rise in people’s voices is a positive sign and shows that citizens do not want a government that rules through threats.
He accused Chief Minister Sarma of failing to protect Assam’s land, culture, and identity, saying that instead of governance, the state is now being run like a monarchy. Gogoi also alleged that in Karbi Anglong, local leader Tuliram Ronghang has been allowed to function like a king. According to him, only Ronghang’s relatives and close associates have benefited, while ordinary people have seen very little improvement in their lives. 
Gogoi said the BJP government has failed to bring development and has instead created a system where power remains concentrated in the hands of a few leaders. He argued that the people of Assam expected fast economic growth and peace, but what they received instead was arrogance from those in power.
The Congress leader launched a strong criticism of the state’s economic policies, especially relating to agriculture and traditional local industries. He said Assam’s tea sector, which has supported lakhs of workers for generations, is almost on the verge of collapse. He stated that many small tea farmers are struggling to continue production because tea leaf prices have fallen drastically. According to him, raw leaves are being sold at only ₹9 to ₹10 per kilogram, leaving tea growers and workers in distress.
He added that the government does not have a proper plan to support the tea industry, and is also ignoring bamboo cultivation in Karbi Anglong, which damages the livelihood of many tribal farmers. Gogoi further pointed out that traditional units like the Sarthebari bell-metal industry are facing closure due to lack of state help.
“For this government, industry only means big corporate groups like Tata, Ambani, and Adani,” he remarked, saying that traditional and small-scale local industries are being pushed aside. He also drew a comparison by saying that just as the monkey army destroyed Ravana’s Lanka in mythology, the public in Assam will bring down the rule of Tuliram Ronghang and Chief Minister Sarma in the 2026 elections.
During his speech, Gogoi also made personal and political attacks against the Chief Minister. He accused Himanta Biswa Sarma of being anti-tribal and claimed that Sarma once took Karbi leader Tuliram Ronghang to Singapore only to carry his suitcase. He said he did not know what was inside the suitcase, hinting at political secrecy and favoritism.
Gogoi further alleged that Sarma has disrespected several tribal leaders. He said Tiwa MLA Ramakanta Deuri was treated like a puppet instead of a respected representative. According to him, Sarma became Chief Minister by betraying a tribal leader and has continued to show a similar attitude even after coming to power.
He said the Chief Minister now tries to control Bodo leaders like Hagrama Mohilary and also claimed that Sarma has destroyed Bodo politician Pramod Boro’s political career. He also accused Minister Ashok Singhal of trying to grab tribal land near the memorial site of Assam’s popular artist Zubeen Garg.
Talking about Zubeen Garg, Gogoi questioned why the government has not shared details regarding the circumstances of the singer’s death. He said that although the Chief Minister recently said Zubeen may have been murdered, the state has not provided any information about how or why it happened.
A major part of Gogoi’s press briefing focused on allegations made by the Chief Minister that linked him with Pakistan. Gogoi said that Himanta Biswa Sarma had publicly claimed he had proof and said that he would reveal details by September 10. According to Gogoi, the Chief Minister has not shared anything so far.
He said elected representatives are not criminals and political accusations must be placed before the people, not just spoken in public meetings and then ignored. Gogoi challenged the Chief Minister to release the SIT investigation report immediately and said if there is proof, action should be taken as per law.
“If the allegations are serious, I am here in Assam. Prove them and take action. But do not try to scare people by making big statements without showing evidence,” he said.
Gogoi said that Himanta Biswa Sarma will have to leave Assam after the 2026 elections. He said the public is now aware of what he called the government’s arrogance and failure, and they will vote for change. He encouraged the Chief Minister to release all evidence related to accusations against him instead of using political speeches to create doubts.
Gogoi said that the Congress will continue its outreach in villages, towns, and tribal belts and will stand with citizens who are afraid to speak up. He added that Assam needs a government that listens to people and does not threaten them.
