"Gogoi accusing BJP of diluting tribal autonomy is totally baseless": Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker

Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 7 (ANI): Assam Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior BJP leader Numal Momin has launched a sharp attack on the Congress, alleging that "terrorism and atrocities" against the tribal people was prevalent in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong during their reign.
He said that the Congress party had used the tribal people, minority community and Adivasi tea tribe people as their vote banks for years after years, but did nothing for the welfare and development of these people.
Continuing his attacks, Momin said that the Congress party has always done politics with the tribal people and minority people of Assam, and the people of the state will give a befitting reply to Congress in the upcoming 2026 assembly polls.
His remarks came after Congress MP and Assam Pradesh Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi accused the BJP-led Assam Government of eroding tribal autonomy under the current government in the state.
"Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the tribal area is now prospering. All-round development is taking place whether in Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao or Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and other tribal autonomous councils. For the first time, the tribal people have tasted the development by their own government," Numal Momin told ANI.
He further said that the Congress had ruled for more than 60 years in Assam, but at that time, the Congress party didn't think about the tribal people.
Refuting Gogoi's allegations, Momin said that his accusing the BJP of diluting the tribal autonomy is "totally baseless."
The BJP leader said, "During the Congress regime, terrorism and atrocities against the tribal people were there in BTR, Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong. Now, the BJP government has been able to bring peace and development together. Today, the people are happy and actively involved in the government's development projects. So now, university, medical college, central college and many more development works like stadiums, road communication, health sector have been done in tribal people-dominated areas in the state. But he (Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Congress President) is accusing the BJP of diluting the tribal autonomy, which is baseless..."
The Deputy Speaker further requested Assam Congress chief Gogoi to compare his party's and the BJP's government policy for the tribal areas.
"I want to request that the State Congress chief should see retrospectively what they did in these tribal areas and what we are doing at present. If he compares, then I don't think that he will dare to speak such kinds of things again and accuse this government. The people of BTR, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are very happy under the dynamic and development-oriented Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma. When peace prevails in this area and development is going on in a very rapid way, at that time, he accused the government it being very unfortunate. The people will give a befitting reply in the upcoming 2026 assembly election," Momin stated.
The Deputy Speaker said that for years, Congress used tribal people, the Muslim minority community, the Christian minority community, and Adivasi tea tribes as their vote banks.
"They are using them in the election with a long list of promises, but they couldn't fulfil. Again, in the time of the election, they distributed a little bit of money and alcohol, and they purchased the common people's vote and formed the government year after year. Now people really understand the Congress's policy, and they defeated Congress twice in Assam, and for the third consecutive time, people are going to defeat Congress in the 2026 election. They are happy with the current government," Numal Momin asserted.
Speaking about the eviction drive in the state, he said that this is done to evict the illegal Bangladeshi Muslims who occupied our land, religious land, agricultural land, and forest land.
He said, "Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is doing good work for the people of Assam, the work which is very much needed in demand of us. People are really loving him. Now, the Congress is nervous; they don't have any issues for the 2026 assembly election. That's why they are accusing here and there, but people are well-versed in the Congress regime. In 2026, people will give their verdict, and Congress will get the answer at that time." (ANI)