Guwahati, Jan 29: Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera has mounted a strong attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of misleading the public by shifting focus away from pressing economic and governance concerns through what he described as trivial and divisive remarks. Khera alleged that the state government is deliberately stirring controversy to avoid accountability on issues that directly affect livelihoods, land rights and the economy of Assam.
In a post on social media platform X, Khera took aim at Sarma’s reported comments on paying reduced wages to individuals he referred to as “Miya,” arguing that such statements do nothing to address the real challenges faced by the state. He said debates over marginal wage differences were meaningless in the context of larger economic distress, asserting that symbolic or inflammatory rhetoric cannot improve Assam’s financial condition or create prosperity for its people.
The Congress leader further alleged that Assam has suffered substantial losses due to the transfer of more than 1.5 lakh bighas of land protected under the Sixth Schedule to corporate interests. According to Khera, these actions have weakened both the economic base of the state and its cultural identity, while benefiting a select few at the cost of ordinary citizens. He accused the BJP-led government of masking these issues by fuelling social divisions.
Escalating his criticism, Khera also accused the Chief Minister of large-scale financial mismanagement, alleging that public funds running into thousands of crores had been misused. He said the government was keeping people “entangled in petty issues” instead of answering serious questions about governance, land protection and economic accountability.
The remarks come amid growing controversy over Sarma’s recent statements urging pressure on the Miya community—East Bengal origin Muslims in Assam—and suggesting that they be paid less. The Chief Minister has also said that measures such as the ongoing revision of electoral rolls are meant to assert what he termed “Assamese dominance,” comments that have sparked sharp political reactions.
At the same time, the Specialised Revision of electoral rolls in Assam has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations, which allege irregularities in the process. Concerns have been raised over the deletion of names of genuine citizens from voter lists, leading to anxiety and harassment among residents.
The exchange reflects intensifying political polarisation in Assam, with the opposition accusing the state government of deflecting attention from core governance failures by amplifying identity-based narratives and social tensions.
