"You Are a Murderer!": Assam CM Slams Akhil; "Talk About Manabendra Sarma’s Death First," Retorts Akhil

The Assam Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed extraordinary chaos as a heated confrontation erupted between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi during the discussion on The Assam Fixation of Ceiling of Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

What was expected to be a routine legislative debate quickly spiraled into a political showdown steeped in past controversies, unresolved allegations and personal attacks.

Orchid Park Allegation Triggers Verbal Warfare

Tensions rose when the Chief Minister accused Akhil Gogoi of opening the Orchid Park “without remitting the required government taxes”. The criticism soon escalated as CM Sarma revived the sensitive 2014 incident involving the death of KMSS activist Pranab Boro (43).

In a highly provocative remark, the Chief Minister asked:

“Did you burn Pranab Boro or not?”

The statement led to an immediate uproar, with ruling party MLAs chanting “Akhil Gogoi Murdaabad” and “Akhil Gogoi Hai Hai.” Speaker Biswajit Daimary struggled to contain the escalating disruption.

Gogoi Responds by Reopening the Manabendra Sarma Case Allegation

Retaliating sharply, Akhil Gogoi brought up the decades-old allegation surrounding the murder of Congress leader Manabendra Sarma, killed in broad daylight in February 1991. The reference revived a politically sensitive chapter in Assam’s history—one that has repeatedly resurfaced over the years.

Notably, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had in 2019 alleged that Himanta Biswa Sarma, then in Congress, was suspended from AASU and implicated in the murder with alleged ULFA involvement—charges Sarma has consistently denied. Mahanta’s statements had emerged during counterattacks over the “secret killings” controversy.

In 2010 as well, Mahanta challenged then CM Tarun Gogoi to reopen the Manabendra Sarma case amid political tension over the Dima Hasao scam, while Congress leaders in 2021 again promised to revisit the case—along with the Saradha and Louis Berger scams—if voted to power.

By raising this matter inside the Assembly, Akhil Gogoi attempted to mirror the Chief Minister’s strategy: counter personal allegations with older accusations that have remained politically contentious but legally inconclusive.

Acrimony Overshadows Legislative Purpose

As the verbal duel intensified, the Chief Minister branded Gogoi a “murderer,” “duplicate farmer leader,” and “anti–tea worker,” adding that he felt “ashamed” to share the House with him. Members from both Treasury and Opposition benches joined the confrontation, turning the Assembly into a battleground of insults and counterclaims.

The legislative business—particularly the land ceiling amendment—was repeatedly interrupted, overshadowed by political theatrics.

Background: The 2014 Pranab Boro Self-Immolation Case

The renewed focus on Pranab Boro’s death reopened a case that once shook Assam.
On March 2, 2014, Akhil Gogoi was arrested on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy after Boro set himself on fire outside the state secretariat while protesting for land rights in Guwahati’s hill areas. Five KMSS members were arrested alongside Gogoi, triggering statewide road blockades, protests and clashes.

KMSS alleged that police forcibly entered Gogoi’s residence, while Boro’s wife had told media that Gogoi was “innocent,” claiming the government targeted KMSS due to their protests during Rahul Gandhi’s visit. The case, politically charged from the start, remains a point of contention even today.

A Debate on Land Policy Turns Into a Battle of Political Legacies

The Assembly scenes reflect a deeper trend in Assam politics: unresolved historical allegations resurfacing whenever political tensions peak.
Friday’s clash was not merely an argument over a land bill—it became a symbolic confrontation between two political narratives:

• CM Sarma’s framing of Gogoi as an instigator, law-breaker and destabilizing force.

• Gogoi’s counter-framing of Sarma as a leader with unaddressed allegations from his earlier political years.

Both leaders drew from politically sensitive events—Pranab Boro’s death and Manabendra Sarma’s killing—highlighting how unresolved historical accusations continue to shape Assam’s political discourse.

Session Ends, Tensions Persist

Despite repeated interventions from the Speaker, the arguments continued for several minutes, marking one of the most dramatic moments of the current Assembly session. The House eventually returned to business, but the political temperature remained visibly high—with implications likely to extend far beyond the Assembly walls.

Also Read: LIVE UPDATES | Chaos in Assam Assembly: Slogans, Accusations Mark Fiery CM–Gogoi Clash