Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, has stated that the new Congress government in Karnataka may not serve out its full term and may fall after the BJP wins the 2024 Lok Sabha general elections.

He was responding to Rajat Sharma’s questions on the show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’.

When it was pointed out that Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar have decided to share Karnataka’s two and a half years of rule, Sarma said, “I don’t think they will get to do this. The government will undoubtedly fall following the 2024 Lok Sabha general elections.”

Sarma predicted that the BJP will win more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections next year by explaining, “India is experiencing one of the most prosperous periods in its history?

“People are proud of their ancestors and their 6,000-year-old civilization. They want to get rid of the Gandhis, who have a feudal mentality. Modi has brought about a significant shift in the minds of Indians.”

When asked if he and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are competing in advocating strident ‘Hindutva,’ Sarma replied, “I come from a small state. Please do not compare apples and oranges. I have goals for Assam that I intend to achieve.”

Sarma revealed what happened in the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, after which he left Congress and joined BJP.

Rajat Sharma: I heard you went and met Rahul Gandhi, but he devoted more time to his pet.

Sarma: “No the story is like this. Rahul Gandhi had called a meeting in which the then CM Tarun Gogoi, myself, party in-charge C. P. Joshi and Assam Congress chief Anjan Dutta were present. We went to his room and the talks began.

“Five minutes later, his pet dog came, and start eating the biscuits that were served with tea for us on the table. I looked at the other three leaders, they were eating comfortably from the same table. I had gone to meet for the first time. I felt this was their culture, having food with pet dogs. I said, I can’t be like this, I can’t eat like this. I decided not to go there again.

“Now where is the question of loyalty? We did not join the party for loyalty to a family. Were they paying my salary to me? We should demystify all this. Rahul was one of our colleagues in a political party. Others may have taken favours from him. I don’t know what Congressmen have in mind about loyalty. For me, loyalty is not to a family, my loyalty is to the nation….Whatever is left of the Congress today is because of Mahatma Gandhi.

“They hijacked his name. Even today, if you cut out the surname of Gandhi from Sonia ji and Rahul’s names, what is left? This title has been hijacked. Congress belong to Mahamanav Mahatma Gandhi. Otherwise, where is the Congress? Gandhi family does not belong to Mahatma Gandhi. ”

The Assam CM added: “Look, I knew Rahul Gandhi since childhood and I was never impressed by his merit. When I was in Congress, I used to meet Sonia Gandhi regularly, but I never met Rahul Gandhi. I was never impressed by his merits, his deeds, his arguments, his logic, and his capacity to do public service. Those who never struggle in life can never become the leader of a country like India.”

On closing down of madarsas in Assam, Sarma said, “I want Muslim youths to get modern education. Though their families must see what education they get, I am trying to create a progressive eco-system for the Muslim community.”

On the issue of uniform civil code, the Assam CM said: “I predict, 15 to 20 years from now, every Muslim woman voter will vote for BJP because we have abolished ‘triple talaq’ and we will surely do away with polygamy. Even Prophet Mohammed, whom Muslims revere as ‘Nabi’, was in favor of monogamy. On polygamy, the Prophet had said, this could be done only with the consent of existing wives. The Directive Principles of State Policy in our Constitution clearly says we should bring a common civil code, which we will surely implement.”

On the controversy over PM inaugurating the new Parliament building, Sarma said, “Gandhi family does not want anybody else except the family to inaugurate the new Parliament. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have never been able to digest the fact that Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister.

“I was in Congress for 22 years. I know how and when Gandhi’s family insulted past Presidents, including Giani Zail Singh. Had the new Parliament building been ready during UPA rule, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would not have been allowed to inaugurate it. Instead, the chairperson of the so-called UPA Sonia Gandhi would have inaugurated it. Had the Congress been worried about an Adivasi woman President, it would not have fielded Yashwant Sinha against Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election.”

The Assam CM said: “When I was in Congress, I had good relations with Sonia Gandhi. To the extent, that she sent me to work for the party during Mizoram and Manipur elections. I toiled hard for the party. When my time came, I went to Sonia Ji and asked for her support, but she did not give it. Tell me, what is the value of such a relation?”