Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a strong attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his son Priyank Kharge, accusing them of carrying forward an “anti-Assam mindset” through their words and actions. Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Chief Minister alleged that both father and son had shown disrespect to Assam’s culture and its people. “Mallikarjun Kharge once insulted the legendary Bhupen Hazarika, who remains the voice of Assam’s identity and emotion. Now his son has insulted the youth of Assam. This shows that the Kharge family has consistently failed to understand the dignity and potential of our state,” Dr. Sarma remarked.
The comments came after Priyank Kharge reportedly questioned the feasibility of establishing a semiconductor project in Assam, claiming that the state’s ecosystem was not conducive for such an industry. He also cast doubt on the Assam government’s claim that 15,000 youths had received training under the state’s semiconductor mission. Reacting sharply, the Chief Minister said the Congress leader’s remarks were “misinformed and arrogant.” “It is unfortunate that he is spreading falsehoods about Assam’s development efforts. Our government is empowering the youth through modern skill development, and the semiconductor initiative is one such transformative step,” Dr. Sarma said.
Recalling a previous controversy, Dr. Sarma reminded reporters that when Bhupen Hazarika was conferred the Bharat Ratna, Mallikarjun Kharge had made “disparaging comments,” which had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Assamese people. “The Congress leadership has a habit of belittling Assam’s achievements and pride. Their words reveal their lack of understanding about our state’s progress,” he added. The Chief Minister urged the Congress leadership to correct its stance and educate its leaders about the cultural and intellectual wealth of Assam. “It is their responsibility to make Priyank Kharge understand what Assam stands for — its culture, spirit, and the incredible strength of its youth,” he said.