Guwahati, Jan 27: Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday, January 26, praised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for what he described as his consistent support for the people of the Northeast during a period marked by crises and unrest, while sharply criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly deflecting attention from core governance failures.
In a post on social media platform X, Khera shared images of Rahul Gandhi engaging with citizens from Northeastern states and said the Congress leader had demonstrated “moral courage and character” by standing with the region at a time when, he claimed, the Union government had shown indifference. He argued that Gandhi’s engagement reflected the Congress party’s deeper connection with the Northeast.
Khera alleged that the BJP-RSS ecosystem has damaged peace, dignity and cultural respect in the region. Referring to ongoing and unresolved issues, he cited the prolonged violence in Manipur, the pending probe linked to the death of singer Zubeen Garg, and the continuing demand for justice by the family of Angel Chakma as examples of what he termed institutional neglect. According to Khera, these issues highlighted a broader failure of governance under the BJP.
He also targeted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of focusing on public appearances rather than accountability. Khera claimed that substantive concerns such as peace, employment, justice and respect for the Northeast’s diverse cultural identity were being sidelined in favour of optics.
“The Northeast is asking for peace, justice, jobs and dignity, not photo opportunities,” Khera said, asserting that voters in Assam were no longer influenced by symbolism alone. He added that the BJP’s recent actions reflected an attempt to divert public attention from these unresolved issues.
Khera’s remarks came against the backdrop of a political row triggered after the Assam Chief Minister demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for allegedly not wearing a traditional Northeastern ‘patka’ at the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Congress has dismissed the controversy as a deliberate effort to shift focus away from pressing governance challenges facing the region.
