"Raising the question once again — “Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?” — Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday launched a scathing and multi-pronged attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of constitutional overreach, misleading the people of Assam, shielding influential individuals, politicising justice, and running what he described as a long-standing political syndicate.Advertisment Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gogoi reacted strongly to the Chief Minister"s recent remarks on denying Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities before the upcoming Assembly elections. “Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the six communities will not be granted ST status before the elections. Who is he to say this? Who has given him the authority to decide this? Will he personally decide it?” Gogoi asked. He asserted that ST status is governed by Central legislation, not by the whims of a Chief Minister. “This is a law under the Central Government. Himanta Biswa Sarma has no authority to declare that ST status will not be granted before elections,” he said. Zubeen Garg Death: Singapore Says Natural, Assam CM Says Murder Gogoi then raised serious questions over the contradictory positions of the Assam Government and the Government of Singapore in connection with the death of Assam"s beloved artiste Zubeen Garg. Referring to information submitted by Singapore"s investigating authority before a court there, Gogoi said the Singapore Government has officially stated that Zubeen Garg"s death was natural, even after a team of Assam Police visited Singapore, held discussions with local authorities and collected documents. “Now the biggest question is — whom should the people of Assam believe? The Government of Singapore or Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma?” Gogoi asked. He pointed out that the Chief Minister has repeatedly claimed — both publicly and on the floor of the Assam Assembly — that Zubeen Garg was murdered, directly contradicting Singapore"s official position. “One government says natural death, the Chief Minister says murder. So who is lying? Who has failed to discharge responsibility — the Singapore Government or Himanta Biswa Sarma"s SIT?” he asked. Lack of Coordination, Conflicting Statements Gogoi questioned why there is no consistency between the statements of the two governments despite visible coordination. He cited evidence of communication between the Assam Government and Singapore authorities, including: Assam Police visiting Singapore Meetings with Singapore Police Execution of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) through the Government of India Public tweets showing meetings between Assam Government representatives and the Singapore High Commissioner Social media posts by the Singapore Embassy regarding Zubeen Garg “Despite all this communication, why do the two governments say completely opposite things?” Gogoi asked. He said that had there been proper coordination, the statements would have matched. “Instead, the people of Assam have once again been pushed further away from truth and justice,” he alleged. Selective Investigation, Alleged Protection Gogoi raised questions over the conduct of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Assam Government. According to Singapore authorities, 18 to 20 people were present with Zubeen Garg during his last moments. However, Gogoi alleged that the SIT: Left out around 10 people Focused on only five individuals “Why were the others left out? On what basis?” he asked. Taking the allegation further, Gogoi questioned whether those excluded had close relations with the Chief Minister and his wife. “Is the Chief Minister trying to protect someone?” he asked. He also alleged that the chargesheet contains less factual evidence and more character assassination, raising doubts about its intent. “Is this an attempt to protect someone and malign someone else?” Gogoi questioned. Justice Delayed, Criminals Encouraged Gogoi warned that such contradictions and delays are damaging public faith in the justice system. “Today criminals are thinking — our job has become easy. We will come out under the open sky. We will come out after the elections,” he said. Expressing concern, he asked: “Will Zubeen Garg get justice under the Himanta Biswa Sarma government?” Despite reports of a 200–300 page chargesheet, Gogoi said the truth remains elusive. “Even after so much time, the people of Assam and Zubeen Garg"s admirers are still far from justice and the real truth,” he said. He reminded that the Chief Minister himself initially declared: “Zubeen Garg was murdered.” Therefore, Gogoi urged the Chief Minister to take responsibility and establish direct communication with Singapore authorities. “This is our appeal. We want information, truth and justice,” he said. Politicisation of the Case? Responding to media questions on whether the government is politicising Zubeen Garg"s death, Gogoi said: “The two governments are saying different things.” He reiterated that although police forces and governments coordinated initially, the outcome has been the opposite of what was promised. “We thought information would come from Singapore. Instead, more confusion has been created,” he said. Rezaul Karim Sarkar Exit from Congress Responding to queries about former AAMSU leader Rezaul Karim Sarkar, who quit the Congress just two days after joining, Gogoi said: Nearly 90 per cent of Rezaul Karim"s joining-day statements were related to Barak Valley–Assam comparisons His attempt to compare Sivasagar and Dhubri was wrong and inappropriate Gogoi said Opposition Leader Debabrata Saikia had expressed similar concerns, a view he supported. “We had advised caution in making public statements,” Gogoi said. He added that Rezaul Karim later followed his conscience and submitted his resignation. Debabrata Saikia Not a BJP Agent Gogoi also said it was inappropriate to label Debabrata Saikia a BJP agent, asserting that the Congress has a single political objective. He recalled that Himanta Biswa Sarma and a few close associates were once in the Congress but later distanced themselves. “The scams associated with them had Himanta Biswa Sarma at the centre. Today they are in the BJP,” he alleged. A 20–22 Year Syndicate Gogoi alleged that for the past 20–22 years, first under the Congress and now under the BJP, a syndicate has been operating in Assam. “Personal families and relatives benefited — not the people of Assam,” he alleged. He said corruption, arrogance and low-level politics first alienated people from the Congress and are now turning them against the BJP. “We must free Assam from this politics forever,” he said. Bar on Congress Leaders in Minority Areas? On questions regarding alleged threats to bar Congress leaders from minority areas following Rezaul Karim"s exit, Gogoi said: “Only Himanta Biswa Sarma deserves to be barred.” He accused the Chief Minister of maligning student leaders by claiming they opposed ST status before elections. “Leaders who once led mass movements have now secretly surrendered before Himanta Biswa Sarma,” Gogoi alleged. He said student leaders have united to oppose the Chief Minister for defamation and character assassination. BJP"s Internal Conflict, Sonowal Sidelined Dismissing claims of Congress infighting, Gogoi said the BJP is trying to hide its own internal turmoil. He alleged that Himanta Biswa Sarma and his close circle are politically eliminating former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He pointed out that: Sonowal is not invited to Upper Assam meetings Projects announced by Sonowal for Tinsukia and Dibrugarh remain unimplemented The proposed sports university has no name or location “Sonowal"s existence has been erased within the BJP,” Gogoi said. He further alleged that BJP workers have been instructed not to mention Sonowal"s name, show his face or invite him to the stage. “This is the reality within the BJP, and the people of Assam must know it,” he said. Also Read: Not an Accidental Death: Zubeen Garg Family Questions "No Foul Play" Finding"
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