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The war of words between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has intensified during the ongoing election campaign with the naming of Barpeta Medical College emerging as a fresh political flashpoint.
Addressing Vijay Sankalp rallies in Sarthebari and Bajali, Sarma criticised Gogoi over his promise to rename Barpeta Medical College after former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Responding to Gogoi’s remarks made during a campaign in Mandia on March 25, the Chief Minister said Gogoi “would need to be born seven times to match our efforts,” asserting that the medical college was named after the place and not after any individual.
Sarma’s comments came as he campaigned for alliance candidate Deepak Kumar Das, where he also used a light political analogy, describing the BJP-AGP alliance as a strong and popular combination like “Bundiya-Bhujia.”
The Chief Minister also accused the Congress of attempting to redefine the idea of “Bor Asom,” which he said was rooted in the cultural and spiritual legacy of Srimanta Sankardev. He alleged that the Congress was selectively including figures like Ajan Fakir while ignoring Madhavdev, and further claimed that the party was trying to expand this definition to include illegal migrants. He described this as an inconsistent and politically motivated narrative.
Highlighting his government’s actions on land encroachment, Sarma said that around 1.5 lakh bighas of land had already been cleared from an estimated 50 lakh bighas under illegal occupation. He added that eviction drives would continue, with plans to free nearly 5 lakh bighas more in the coming days. According to him, the reclaimed land would be redistributed among economically weaker sections.
The Chief Minister also said that the BJP’s election manifesto, or “Sankalp Patra,” would be released soon, containing 31 commitments aimed at presenting what he described as a renewed vision for the state.
Taking a personal dig, Sarma mocked Gogoi’s political journey, particularly his contest from Jorhat, suggesting that he was contesting elections “just for the sake of getting married,” and claimed that he would win before his wedding.
Earlier in the day, Gaurav Gogoi Gogoi had criticised the reported move to remove the name of former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed from the medical college. In a statement, he said the decision was “deeply hurtful” and called it an insult to one of Assam’s most respected figures.
Gogoi said Ahmed, a freedom fighter and the fifth President of India, remains a matter of pride for the state. He questioned the need to remove his name and alleged that such a move could be politically driven. He also urged the government to reconsider the decision and retain the original name of the institution.
“Respecting the history of Assam and honouring the contributions of its great personalities is the responsibility of every citizen,” Gogoi said.
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