Assam Congress Files Complaint Against CM Himanta Biswa Sarma For 'Father-Son' Barb At Rahul Gandhi
The controversy erupted after Himanta Biswa Sarma, at a rally in Uttarakhand on February 11, attacked Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike.
New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday filed a police complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his "father-son" barb at Rahul Gandhi.
Congress claimed that Himanta Biswa Sarma's remark was against the Indian civilisation and culture, PTI reported.
#WATCH Rahul Gandhi wanted proof of surgical strike conducted by India on Pak. Did we ever ask you for proof whether you're Rajiv Gandhi's son or not? If our soldiers have said that they've carried a strike...then who gave you right to ask for proof: Assam CM HB Sarma in U'khand pic.twitter.com/fYLSbc4Dps
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2022
Assam Congress spokespersons Basanta Kumar Sarma and Bhabani Kalita filed the complaint at Guwahati's Hatigaon police station and urged the police officers to register an FIR against the chief minister.
In a statement, Congress also claimed that another complaint they wanted to file at Dispur police station was not accepted by its in-charge.
"This shows what is happening in the state and the CM is using the police as his personal force. Assam Police nowadays do not take responsibility for anyone except the RSS and the BJP," Congress Senior Spokesperson Manjit Mahanta said in the statement.
The controversy erupted after Sarma, at a rally in Uttarakhand on February 11, attacked Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike and questioning the efficacy of Covid vaccines.
"India conducted the surgical strike in Pakistan under his (General Bipin Rawat's) leadership. Rahul Gandhi demanded proof of the strike. Did we ever ask you for proof of whether you are Rajiv Gandhi's son or not?" the BJP leader had said.
On Sunday, Himanta Sarma said the Congress was giving a "wrong interpretation" to his statement.
Himanta also posted several screenshots of the Congress's statements on the 2016 surgical strikes on his official Twitter handle and wrote, "Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country. India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!".
Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 13, 2022
India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa! pic.twitter.com/0KdJoFLR0M
Complaints have been filed by Congress leaders across several states against the Assam Chief Minister for the controversial remark. Several opposition leaders, including chief ministers, also criticised Sarma for it.