Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a sharp counterattack against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his recent remarks implying that the Chief Minister will be jailed. Sarma questioned Gandhi’s authority, ridiculed his comments, and even warned of potential legal action over what he claimed was incitement to violence.

Speaking to the media, CM Sarma said, "Today ED has seized many properties of Robert Vadra. There are many jails in India waiting for the Gandhis. If Rahul Gandhi can arrest me from inside the jail, then I don't know. He is just an MP. How can he arrest a Chief Minister?"

He accused the Congress of reducing its electoral agenda in Assam to a personal vendetta against him, stating, "Congress will not talk about employment, they will not talk about our land, culture. Congress party will fight elections here only on one agenda, that Himanta Biswa Sarma will be put behind bars. Who will vote for such a party whose manifesto will only be of one line?"

Eviction clash in Goalpara sparks fresh political row

The Chief Minister also responded to the violent clash that took place during an eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest area of Goalpara, where 21 police personnel were injured and one protester died. Sarma blamed the Congress leadership for allegedly inciting the violence.

He said police would examine speeches made by Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who, according to Sarma, had “openly encouraged encroachers and land jihadis” during a rally.

"He (Rahul) has clearly said that people will be rehabilitated in the same place. Today morning, the evicted people started throwing stones and beating police with sticks and other weapons. 21 police personnel were injured. When the police had no other option but to open fire, one encroacher died, and another is under treatment. Police have registered a case. We will see who is directly or indirectly responsible for this incident," he added.

He warned that if any part of the Congress leaders’ speeches were found to provoke unrest or breach the law, police would not hesitate to take action.

Sarma labels Rahul Gandhi a 'foreign element'

In a more controversial statement, CM Sarma escalated the rhetoric by labelling Rahul Gandhi and Assam Congress President Bhupen Borah as "foreign elements".

"Rahul Gandhi himself is a foreign element. Every time he goes abroad, who knows where he actually goes? He is the main guy of George Soros. Rahul Gandhi and the Assam PCC President are the highest level of foreign elements," Sarma alleged.

Rahul Gandhi calls CM 'India’s most corrupt'

The war of words was triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during a rally in Chhaygaon on July 16, where he declared that the Congress would sweep the next Assembly elections in Assam under the leadership of MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Gandhi took direct aim at the Chief Minister, saying he does not think of himself as Chief Minister but as a "king".

"The people of Assam know the truth... There will be elections soon, and the Congress will sweep those elections. We have created a new team here. We have started the work, and the people of Assam will soon see the results we will see it," he said.

Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, termed Biswa as India's "most corrupt Chief Minister" and said some day he will have to "account for it".

He said that Chief Minister has "fear in his mind as he knows one day 'babber shers' of Congress will take him jail".