Rahul Gandhi said Congress will implement Article 244A to ensure tribal self-governance in Assam and accused the BJP of weakening autonomous councils. He also warned that legal action will be taken against Himanta Biswa Sarma if Congress comes to power.
Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that if Congress comes to power after the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, his party will implement Article 244A of the Constitution and will also take action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
He made these statements while addressing an election rally in Karbi Anglong, where he strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over governance, alleged corruption, and control over tribal areas.
Rahul Gandhi said that Article 244A is an important constitutional provision that allows the creation of an autonomous state within Assam for tribal areas. He explained that this provision would help tribal communities govern themselves and take decisions regarding their land, resources, and political future without outside interference.
“We are fully committed to the implementation of 244A and no one will run your affairs using a remote control from Guwahati. We want you to control your future, run your politics and take decisions on your lands. For this 244A is a must and we will deliver it,”
he said.
Article 244A of the Indian Constitution allows for the creation of an autonomous state within Assam in certain tribal areas listed under the Sixth Schedule. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides special administrative arrangements for tribal areas in Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
These areas are governed through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), which are elected bodies that have powers over land, forests, water, local resources, social customs, and inheritance matters. In Assam, there are currently three Autonomous District Councils — Bodoland, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that both the Central government and the Assam state government led by the BJP have reduced the autonomy and powers of these councils and have given large areas of land to big industrial houses.
“Congress believes in decentralisation of power where it rests with the people and all identities have a role in how the country runs. On the other hand, BJP’s ideology believes that Assam and its people should be run from Delhi. We believe you should be able to take your decisions like provided in the constitution,”
he said.
He further alleged corruption against the BJP leadership and claimed that land and resources belonging to tribal people were being given to industrial houses in exchange for money which is then used during elections.
“They (BJP) think that your land, water, forests and other resources go to the hands of industrial houses. This is not given for free. These lands which belong to you have been given to these industrial houses who in turn have paid large sums to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who use that money during election,”
he added.
Targeting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directly, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Chief Minister was involved in corruption and warned that strict legal action would be taken if Congress forms the government in the state.
“Sarma runs a syndicate. When our government forms, he will become silent and come to us with folded hands. There will be no forgiveness and he will have to face the consequences of his corruption,”
he said.
Last month, the Congress party released a ‘charge sheet’ in which it accused the Chief Minister and his family of illegally acquiring more than 4,000 acres of land in Assam through corrupt practices. These allegations have become a major political issue in the state ahead of the elections.
Rahul Gandhi also spoke about the death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg and said that the Congress party has promised justice in the case. The murder trial in the case is currently going on in a fast-track court and seven accused persons are being tried, with the court hearing the matter on a daily basis.
“Zubeen stood for Assam and every single person in the state. We love and respect him because he represented the multi-cultural and multi-religious identity of Assam,”
he said.
Apart from state issues, Rahul Gandhi also spoke about the India-US trade deal and alleged that the Central government has harmed Indian farmers by allowing US agricultural products into Indian markets. He also claimed that the government has compromised on important issues like energy security and data security while negotiating international agreements.
ALSO READ: Gauhati HC Relocation| CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Resigns from Bar Association
Rahul Gandhi’s speech clearly shows that Article 244A, tribal autonomy, corruption allegations, land issues, and farmer concerns are going to be major political and legal issues in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.
The promise to implement Article 244A is especially significant because it involves constitutional provisions related to autonomous governance in tribal areas, which could have major administrative and legal implications if implemented.
Click Here to Read More Reports on Himanta Biswa Sarma
