Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday launched an unprecedented attack on three erstwhile Congress Prime Ministers -- Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, saying that the top leaders of the grand old party "have been always insensitive towards the northeast".
He even criticised the former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed for allegedly cutting short his Assam visit during the India-China war in 1962.
Sarma said: "In October 1962, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed came to Assam and went to Tezpur. However, he left from there very quickly and literally fled away, anticipating a Chinese occupation in Tezpur. He did not have a chat with the local people... rather thought of securing himself.”
"Ahmed might have thought that China would be coming here, what his role was in staying there," he added.
The Assam Chief Minister also criticised Jawaharlal Nehru and claimed that he did not want Indira Gandhi to visit Assam during the volatile situation created by the India-China war, thinking that she might be abducted by the Chinese.
Mentioning the Nellie massacre that took place in Assam's Nagaon district in February 1983 and claimed around 2,000 lives, Sarma said: "Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came to Nellie for only five minutes and blamed the Assamese people entirely for the massacre."
He further said that during the conflict between Bodo and Bengali-speaking Muslims in 2012 in Assam's Kokrajhar, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid a token visit for just an hour, which could not help to solve the problem.
"The Bodoland region saw unrest in 2008 also, however, Manmohan Singh did not come there then," Sarma added.
The Assam Chief Minister also blamed the Congress party for the illegal immigrants' issue and loss of lives during the days of Assam agitation.
"The Assam accord could have been signed in 1979 only and had it been done then, many lives could be saved," he claimed.
"Due to wrong policies of the Congress party, a large number of Bangladeshi infiltrators had entered Assam. However, we cannot push them back as the neighbouring country would not be ready to accept such a large number of people."
Sarma further criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for his alleged remark on Bhupen Hazarika after the Assam icon was conferred 'Bharat Ratna' -- the highest civilian award in the country.
"When Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Bhupen Hazarika the 'Bharat Ratna', Mallikarjun Kharge objected to it and asked why a singer would be given this award," the Assam Chief Minister said.
Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil suspends indefinite hunger strike
Pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Thursday suspended his indefinite hunger strike while giving a warning to the state government to stage a fresh protest in Mumbai if the demands made by him are not met.
Some people politicising Manipur’s ethnic violence, confusing people: CM Biren Singh
Biren Singh said that his government's opposition to the immigrants in the state is because they are engaged in drug-related activities and poppy cultivation and these migrants are also creating serious socio-economic problems for the indigenous people.
India world's go-to launch pad: PM Modi
India is becoming the world's go-to launch pad with a record number of foreign satellites being launched from the country in the last decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.
Terrorist movement detected along LoC in J&K's Poonch, firing exchange on
Alert troops detected terrorist movement along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Khari Karmara area of J&K’s Poonch district on Thursday after which a firing exchange broke out between the soldiers and the terrorists and is still on, the Army said.
Budget session of Parliament kicks off tomorrow
The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on Friday (January 31) with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman scheduled to table the Economic Survey after President Droupadi Murmu addresses the joint session of both Houses in the morning.
PM Modi shares glimpses of his journey towards Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a series of captivating pictures highlighting his key engagements throughout January, showcasing India's journey towards a "Viksit Bharat".
No survivors yet of mid-air Washington DC collision
No survivors have yet been found of American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan National Airport in Washington DC Wednesday night.
Will make proposals based on NE’s socio-economic & geographical situations: Arvind Panagariya
The 16th Finance Commission while making its recommendations would keep in mind the socio-economic and geographical situations of the northeastern states, the panel chairman Arvind Panagariya said here on Thursday.