Congress gives equal importance to the rights of every community and ethnicity: Gaurav Gogoi

▪️Mass joining programme of Assam Pradesh Congress at Rajiv Bhawan
▪️Warm welcome at Rajiv Bhawan to three leaders who joined Congress in Delhi
▪️Many BJP leaders will join Congress at the next joining rally on October 10: Gaurav Gogoi
▪️Himanta Biswa thinks of himself as a first-class citizen: Gaurav Gogoi
▪️Atul Bora has brought the Assam Accord to an end: Satyabrata Kalita
▪️Leaving Congress was an unwise decision: Binanda Saikia
▪️A battle will be fought under the leadership of Gaurav Gogoi, we are ready for the fight: Mansing Rongpi

DD TIMES Guwahati, September 10: Several BJP leaders continue to reach out to the Congress party, leaving behind what has now become a “Mama-Mami and Private Company-like party.” Many more BJP leaders will soon be joining Congress. Addressing a special joining programme at Rajiv Bhawan today in the presence of three leaders who had recently joined Congress in Delhi after quitting BJP and AGP, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi made these remarks. He further announced that another joining rally will be held on October 10.

Gogoi said, “BJP is no longer a political party. The entire party has turned into Himanta Biswa Sharma & Private Limited. Both the BJP organization and government are now functioning as Himanta Biswa Sharma Pvt. Ltd. Those who joined BJP to serve the people have been denied the opportunity. That is why many BJP members, who want to serve the people, are now making efforts to join Congress.”

On the issue of ethno-nationalism, Gogoi remarked: “Our Constitution defines India as a union of states, and therein lies the essence of nationalism. Congress, though a nationalist party, equally values ethno-nationalistic thoughts of all ethnic groups. During the tenure of late Tarun Gogoi, Congress tried to respect, strengthen, and integrate the nationalistic aspirations of diverse communities and tribes of Assam to build a stronger Assam.”

He emphasized that Congress never allows injustice against any community, caste, or religion: “Whether one votes for Congress or not, our party will always stand for the rights of every community, caste, and religion.”

Commenting on the BJP style of governance, Gogoi said: “We are thankful to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for clarifying in every forum that Congress has a distinct ideology. Our ideology is based on the Constitution drafted by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, which guarantees equal rights to every Indian citizen. This idea of equality is something Himanta Biswa cannot grasp. He thinks of himself as a first-class citizen and treats the public as his subordinates.”

Taking a jibe at the Chief Minister, he added: “All our scriptures say that arrogance leads to downfall. Despite holding the Health and Education portfolios for years, today Assam ranks in the bottom five states in both sectors, not the top five.”

On the coming election, Gogoi said: “The people of Assam want peace, harmony, and unity. They want a government that respects teachers and public servants, and works for the rural poor rather than the corporates. This time a real battle will be fought, and under Congress leadership, a people’s government full of love will be formed.”

Speaking for the first time at Rajiv Bhawan after joining Congress from AGP in Delhi, senior leader Satyabrata Kalita launched a scathing attack on AGP president Atul Bora, saying: “As the Accord Minister, Atul Bora could not implement even a single clause of the Assam Accord; instead, he finished it off.” He recalled Madhav Rajbongshi always encouraged him to join Congress and said: “Congress is deeply tied to India’s freedom struggle. Today, I feel grateful to be welcomed into this family.”

Kalita also referred to the Gorukhuti project cattle theft issue: “We thought those involved would be punished, but when the CM said ‘what will they eat if they lose MLA or minister posts,’ I realized there’s no point siding with such thieves.” He further accused both Himanta Biswa Sharma’s Assam government and Modi’s central government of arrogance and indifference to the people.

Former BJP MLA Binanda Saikia, once a member of the “Dada Brigade,” said: “I had been considering returning to Congress for the past 2–3 years. The last time I visited Rajiv Bhawan was in November 2015. Today, on my birthday, I am reborn politically in Congress. Leaving Congress was an unwise decision, driven by emotions. Those who created that situation are no longer in the party. I will remain in Congress till my last breath.”

Saikia also criticized BJP’s politics of division: “Today, BJP is exploiting Bhupen Hazarika’s birth centenary for politics, but they don’t follow his ideals. Every song of the Bard of Brahmaputra speaks of unity and harmony. A party that thrives on communalism and divisive politics has no moral right to celebrate Bhupen Hazarika.”

Another returnee, Mansing Rongpi, expressed happiness: “I am most delighted because the Congress has embraced me again. Under the leadership of Gaurav Gogoi, a major battle will be fought. We are ready for it.” Referring to the August 19, 2025 Borjhar airport incident, he said: “Today, the excitement at Borjhar is greater than that day.”

Today’s joining event saw the presence of AIUDF’s working president Abu Saleh Najmuddin, ANP leader Dulal Baruah, Darrang BJP leader Mihir Kumar Saharia, BJP leader Rukma Bora, Mahendra Kalita, and Birinchi Bora of Nagaon Citizens’ Forum, among others. Hundreds of members from BJP, AGP, and other parties officially joined Congress.

The event was attended by MP Pradyut Bordoloi, MP Rakibul Hussain, former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora, Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur, along with almost every senior Congress leader of the state.