In Rahul Gandhi vs Himanta Sarma, Now An “Arrest After Lok Sabha” Threat

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared today that he would ensure the arrest of Congress’s Rahul Gandhi — but after the Lok Sabha Election.

“If we take action now, they will call it as political move,” he said a day after a police case was filed against the senior Congress leader, who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra through Assam. Listing the key temples that Rahul Gandhi has not visited on his journey — including the famous Kamakshya Temple — Mr Sarma said the Congress’s only goal is to start a row.

“The whole intention of the Yatra was to disturb Assam and the jeopardose the peace in Assam. We defeated this attention seeker of his motive and now let him do whatever he wants to do beyond Dhuburi,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.

“We will form an SIT, the SIT shall investigate the case and we shall arrest him after the Lok Sabha elections are over. If we take action now, they will call it as political move,” he said. “We have proof. Yesterday a major incident could have happened in Guwahati, the way he provoked people,” Mr Sarma added.

The Congress has claimed that its Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra was attacked twice by BJP goons in Assam on Monday – shortly after the Chief Minister warned Mr Gandhi to stay away from state capital Guwahati, citing the programmes associated with the Ram temple consecration ceremony.

Early that morning, Mr Gandhi was barred from entering a temple. He ended the day with a sit-down protest as the police did not allow his march to proceed. The Congress leader had passed the time with an impromptu public meeting, where he ripped into the Chief Minister and his party.

Mr Gandhi had also scoffed after a police case was filed against him yesterday.

“I don’t know how Himanta Biswa Sarma got the idea that he can intimidate me by filing cases. File as many cases as you can. File 25 more cases, you can’t intimidate me. BJP-RSS can’t intimidate me”, he added. Mr Sarma – whom he once dubbed the “most corrupt Chief Ministe of the country” – was involved in largescale irregularities, Mr Gandhi alleged.

“While he (Mr Sarma) speaks to you, he steals your land. While you chew betel nut, he corners the supari business. He has taken land in Kaziranga National Park also”, Mr Gandhi said.