Political tensions escalated in Guwahati on February 10 as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) filed a police complaint over an alleged communal social media post linked to the BJP, while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma initiated defamation proceedings worth ₹500 crore against senior Congress leaders.
The complaint was lodged at Dispur Police Station, even as the matter also reached the Supreme Court earlier in the day through a separate plea.
On February 10, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee filed a complaint at Dispur Police Station over an allegedly communal post from the BJP Assam X handle. The same day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma initiated ₹500 crore defamation proceedings against Congress leaders over alleged false statements, intensifying political tensions in Assam.
Complaint Filed at Dispur Police Station
According to APCC leaders Sibamoni Bora and Diganta Bauman, a post shared on the BJP Assam official X handle on February 7 was “highly provocative” and capable of disturbing communal harmony.
The post allegedly depicted the Chief Minister symbolically firing at members of the Muslim community and included phrases such as “foreigner free Assam”, “No mercy”, and “Why did you not go to Pakistan?”.
Congress leaders stated that the imagery appeared to target Bengali-origin Muslims and urged police to register a case under relevant penal provisions.
As of the time of reporting, police have not publicly confirmed whether an FIR has been registered.
Matter Also Reaches Supreme Court
Separately, a plea was mentioned before the Supreme Court by the CPI(M), seeking directions over what it described as discriminatory remarks by the Chief Minister.
Senior advocate Nizam Pasha sought urgent intervention, referring to a video allegedly showing the Chief Minister shooting at members of a particular community.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that election periods often see political disputes brought before courts and indicated that the matter would be listed for hearing.
No substantive order has been passed yet in that case.
CM Announces ₹500 Crore Defamation Proceedings
Hours after the complaint and court mention, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that he had initiated civil and criminal defamation proceedings seeking ₹500 crore in damages.
The cases target Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel, and Gaurav Gogoi over what Sarma described as “false and malicious” allegations made during a press conference.
He also stated that criminal defamation proceedings would be pursued against Debabrata Saikia and others associated with the event.
Congress has not issued an official response to the defamation action at the time of publication.
Political Impact in Assam
The developments have intensified political confrontation in Assam, particularly in Guwahati, where both the complaint and the defamation proceedings have direct administrative and legal relevance.
With elections approaching, legal and political strategies are increasingly intersecting, with disputes now unfolding in police stations and courtrooms alongside public platforms.
What Happens Next?
Police in Dispur will examine the complaint filed by the APCC and decide on further action as per legal procedures.
The Supreme Court is expected to assign a date for hearing the plea mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, the defamation proceedings initiated by the Chief Minister will proceed through appropriate civil and criminal courts.
Further legal developments are likely in the coming weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What complaint did Congress file in Guwahati?
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee filed a complaint at Dispur Police Station over an allegedly communal social media post from the BJP Assam X handle.
Why is the Chief Minister seeking ₹500 crore?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has initiated civil and criminal defamation proceedings seeking ₹500 crore in damages against Congress leaders over what he termed false allegations.