Congress accuses Assam CM of ‘murdering democracy’ ahead of panchayat polls, alleges police harassment, media intimidation

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 23, 2025

The Congress launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP-led government on Wednesday, accusing them of undermining democracy in the run-up to the Panchayat elections scheduled for May 2 and 7.

Senior Congress leader Charan Singh Chapra alleged that the state government is using the police force to systematically harass Congress candidates and suppress opposition voices. “They have violated the democratic rights of the people by allowing the police to torture Congress leaders and workers,” Chapra said at a press briefing in Guwahati.

He accused the BJP of ruling through intimidation and propaganda, describing their governance model as “jhuth, jhumla, and jaglari”—lies, deception, and gimmickry. “In Assam, the BJP has replaced democracy with muscle power,” he said, adding, “If the police baton is used to win votes, where is democracy? The BJP has turned Assam into a political battlefield.”

Chapra pointed to the case of Congress spokesperson Ritam Singh, who is reportedly facing multiple legal cases, and the alleged withdrawal of security detail from MP Rakibul Hussain, as evidence of targeted harassment. “This is not just administrative overreach—this is an attempt to silence the voices of the opposition,” he asserted.

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The Congress leader also aimed CM Sarma personally, accusing him of launching a smear campaign against MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife. “These acts reflect the deep frustration of a ruling party that is losing public support,” he said.

Expressing serious concern over the state of press freedom in Assam, Chapra alleged that journalists critical of the BJP government are being threatened, silenced, and punished. “Truth-tellers are being intimidated in various ways. This is not governance—it’s coercion,” he said.

Calling on the people of Assam to reject fear and stand up for democratic values, Chapra challenged the BJP to “trust the people’s vote instead of the police baton” if they truly believe in democracy. He urged citizens to be guided by democratic consciousness and not be intimidated by authoritarian tactics.

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Chapra also condemned Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, calling for strong and unified action against terrorism. He paid tribute to the victims and extended his condolences to the bereaved families while holding the Modi government accountable for what he called “a clear failure to curb terrorism.”

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