'Decisions Taken In Dining Room': Assam CM Himanta Sarma Says 'Unimaginable' To Share Table With Sonia Or Rahul Gandhi

Himanta Biswa Sarma said the BJP is a democratic party, founded by its workers while the Congress is a family-centric entity where decisions are made in the 'dining room of one family'.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, asserting that it operates as a family-centric entity where decisions are made in the 'dining room of one family'.

He also asserted that it was 'unimaginable' for a member of the Congress party to share a table with Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, whereas the BJP is a democratic party, founded by its workers.

Sarma, speaking at the inauguration of a party office at Chakchaka in Barpeta district, said, "The BJP is a democratic party, formed by its workers. But if you look at Congress or other parties, these are not formed by workers but are centered around their leaders and families.

"Decisions are taken in the dining room of the family and workers only follow it. The agenda and ideology of the party are changed to suit the requirement of the family," he said, PTI reported.

Speaking to party employees at a Guwahati event thereafter, Sarma recalled his firsthand account of the BJP's first national executive meeting in Odisha following his conversion to the saffron party.

As he attended the meeting accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Both were surprised to see that prominent figures like Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, and Dharmendra Pradhan ate with all the attendees in an unpretentious manner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also ate with everyone at the meeting.

"We were told that it is how it works in BJP. In Congress, sitting at the same table as Sonia Gandhi or on a chair beside Rahul Gandhi is unimaginable," Sarma added.

Continuing the attack against the 'grand old party', he further said, "If at a Congress platform, we say in front of Sonia Gandhi that Gandhi family comes second and the nation is first, how it will go down I am apprehensive. "But Modi ji himself says that nation first, party second, family third. And this shows the organisational foundation of BJP," he also added, as reported by PTI.

A senior leader like Amit Shah is more happy to eat in a party worker's house than at some fancy hotel, he highlighted.

"Our objective is 'param baivab' (prosperity) for the nation, to stop family-centric politics, to ensure that someone who sells tea at a railway station can also rise to be the prime minister," he stated.

BJP's Ideological Basis Remains Constant: Sarma

According to Sarma, the BJP's ideological basis remains constant despite changes in the outside world, distinguishing the party from followers of socialism and communism. "The communist agenda is to take away power from the one in the first row and give it to the one in the last row. Ours is to utilise the power of the first person and bring a smile to everyone," he further said.

After welcoming former Congress working president and MLA Rana Goswami into the BJP, Sarma said that a saffron party is a place for those who want to contribute to the nation. "All the BJP CMs in North East are from the Congress. Those who are seeking to contribute to the nation and come to BJP, they will get their due," he outlined, adding, "Personal aspirations should be there, but it should be aligned with how one can contribute to the nation."

"The party keeps track of everyone and the deserving ones are given due responsibilities and roles," he further added, claiming that those given responsibility are also 'under scrutiny' of the party so that they could continue their working ruthlessly.

According to the PTI, Speaking earlier to party members at the opening of the Barpeta office, Sarma underlined that the agenda and goals of the BJP, and earlier the Jan Sangh, have always been steadfastly centered on humanity, the welfare of all, and prosperity for India. "Whoever may be the party chief, there is no change in the party's agenda. If you look at Nadda ji (present BJP chief), he was a mere worker. He was not any leader's son or father," Sarma said.

Sarma also highlighted other notable figures who attained high positions without the support of family or favoritism, such as Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. "In other parties, workers cannot rise to such high positions. There was (Jawaharlal) Nehru first, then Indira (Gandhi), then Sonia, then Rahul (in Congress). But in the BJP, there was Vajpayee, then Advani, Modi, Shah, and Nadda. None of them are from one family," he remarked.

He claimed that the agenda of the party is decided in the party's headquarters, not in anyone's dining room, and that the BJP was founded by its employees.

The chief minister also underscored that the BJP is formed on four 'Ks' - 'karyasuchi' (agenda), 'karyakarta', (workers) 'karyalay' (office), and 'kosh' (fund). "Like the four Vedas, these four are the four pillars on which our party's strength lies in the state," he added, motivating the workers to continue their dedication towards the party.