HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 16: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday came down heavily on the Congress party, accusing it of resorting to “cheap thinking” and communal politicking in the wake of an alleged incident involving the desecration of a Hanuman temple in Dhubri district.
Speaking to the media, Sarma claimed that beef was intentionally thrown into the temple premises, sparking unrest in the area.
Related Posts:
He stated that individuals arrested in connection with the case belong to the minority community.
“Look at the cheap thinking of Congress,” Sarma said. “Beef was thrown into a Hanuman temple in Assam. The culprits are from the minority community, but Congress is blaming Hindus. This is the politics they play.”
Doubling down on his criticism, the Chief Minister accused the opposition party of long-standing “appeasement politics” and rejected suggestions that a Hindu could have been behind the alleged act.
“Just imagine how narrow-minded one must be to think that a Hindu would desecrate a temple by placing beef there,” he said. “If anyone files such a complaint, the first question should be: what evidence do you have?”
Sarma further asserted that similar incidents in the past have also involved individuals from the minority community.
However, he stressed that such acts were the work of isolated miscreants and not representative of the entire community.
“Most members of the minority community are strongly opposed to such acts and condemn them,” he noted. “But among them, there are a few who engage in these misdeeds.”
Calling for restraint and responsibility in public discourse, Sarma urged political leaders and critics not to level accusations without clear evidence.
“Those who blame Hindus must present proof,” he said. “Baseless allegations only serve to malign entire communities and deepen divisions.”
The controversy has further inflamed political tensions in Assam, with the Congress party questioning the government’s narrative and cautioning against communalising the issue.
The state government, meanwhile, has maintained that the case is being pursued based on factual findings rather than political influence.
The unrest in Dhubri followed the discovery of suspected cattle remains near the Hanuman temple in Ward No. 3 of the town.
Police have arrested at least 50 individuals so far in connection with the incident.
As investigations continue, the episode highlights the fragile intersection of religion and politics in Assam, where communal flashpoints often take on broader socio-political dimensions.
