Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi slams Assam CM for security lapses after ULFA(I) bomb blast allegations

GUWAHATI — Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, on Sunday said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Home Ministry had failed to provide security after “bomb-like substances” were found at least 10 places after ULFA(I) claimed to have planted 24 bombs.

Gogoi criticised the BJP-led government and wondered if the police and intelligence agencies were asleep when the organisation planted the “suspicious objects” in the state.

“If ULFA can plant bombs or suspicious objects in so many places, isn’t that a failure of our Ministry of Interior and Intelligence? In this modern era, we are constantly being watched. Our phones are being tapped, I think my phones are also being tapped through Pegasus.

Also read: ULFA-I claims to have planted explosives at 24 locations in Assam

“ULFA sent a strong message, and I must ask, what did the CM and his Home Department do? Did the police sleep? ULFA executed their plan with such precision that nobody had an idea! It shows how much our Home Department has failed,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a party function in Jorhat.

Gogoi alleged that the Home Ministry, headed by Sarma, is engaged in protecting the mafia, cow traders and the syndicate.

“But when it came to providing us security, it failed. The CM has failed. He failed when he was the education, health and finance minister in previous governments. Now he has failed as the home minister too. He has only succeeded as the PWD minister in waiving super tenders and ordering flyovers in Guwahati and other places,” he added.

Police have recovered “bomb-like substances” from at least 10 places, including four in Guwahati, after the banned ULFA (I) on Thursday claimed to have planted bombs at 24 locations to trigger a series of explosions across Assam on Independence Day.

Following the massive security incidents, the opposition demanded the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister, saying his government had “completely failed”.

Asked whether he will contest against Sarma in the 2026 Assembly elections, Gogoi said, “If the party decides, I will contest from Jalukbari (CM’s constituency). If they ask me to contest from Jorhat or Golaghat, I will do so accordingly. Whatever the party decides, I will do that.”

The Congress The leader said his aim is to fulfil the unfinished dream of his father and former CM Tarun Gogoi regarding the development of Assam.

“Everyone understands that there has been a political shock within the BJP after the Lok Sabha elections. Before the elections, people from Congress joined the BJP. After the results, people from BJP and other parties are now joining the Congress.

“I assure you that if the central government changes or becomes restless, if Prime Minister Modi becomes restless after the election results of Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, then Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will be the first person to abandon the sinking ship,” he asserted.

Asked about Sarma’s recent comment that all his family’s properties would be donated to the public, Gogoi said the CM had mentioned only 2-3 properties and that they would be donated to the public.

“However, he and his family members have a long list of properties, of which only one percent has been made public. He wants to keep that 99 percent with him and only one percent will be donated… No one takes his words seriously,” he added.