Congress convoy attacked in Assam, party blames BJP, ECI

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that a planned “murderous attack” took place on the convoy of Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel during campaigning for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, terming it a “shameful attempt” by the BJP to avert a likely defeat, with the “tacit approval” of the Election Commission.

The Opposition party also questioned the Election Commission’s “silence” over such violence while demanding a probe into the incident.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the stone-pelting incident targeting the convoy of Baghel, Gogoi and other Congress leaders was not merely an isolated event but a “shameful attempt” by the BJP – with the tacit approval of the Election Commission – to avert a likely defeat in the October 6 bypoll by resorting to violence and intimidating the voters and the Congress.

“Under the Modi Government, the nation has witnessed a double standard regarding the security of Opposition leaders and workers during elections – spanning from Tripura and West Bengal to Assam,” Ramesh said a post in Hindi on X.

The ECI’s “partisan” attitude has become evident through its various actions – from decisions to freeze the names and election symbols of the Shiv Sena and the NCP in Maharashtra, citing internal splits, to the recent instance involving the All India Trinamool Congress’ (AITC) name and symbol in West Bengal, Ramesh said.

“The arrest of the Congress candidate – following the coercion of the AITC nominee into withdrawing her nomination for the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal – has completely exposed the state’s electoral climate and the lack of impartiality on the part of the Election Commission,” Ramesh said.

Questions regarding the impartiality and transparency of the Election Commission – including issues concerning the electoral process – are already being raised across the country, he claimed.

“Elections are meant to be a celebration of democracy; yet, blinded by the arrogance of power, the BJP has turned them into an arena of violence,” Ramesh alleged.

It is abundantly clear that the BJP has no faith in democratic values and traditions; their sole objective is winning elections by any means, he said.

Ramesh also shared a link to the press conference by Congress general secretary Naseer Hussain on these issues.

Hussain said a report should be sought from the Nagaon district commissioner and the superintendent of police, and strict action be taken against those involved in the “attack” (on the Congress convoy).

Lok Sabha by-election in Nagaon and Assembly bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal are scheduled for October 6, with vote counting on October 9.

The seat in Nagaon fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party and joined the BJP.

The Congress leaders’ remarks came a day after the BJP and Congress cadres clashed during campaigning in Nagaon.

The incident took place around 4 pm in the Samaguri Assembly segment when a Congress convoy, led by Gogoi, was heading for a public meeting at Larirmukh.

Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and bypoll candidate Sibamoni Bora were part of the convoy.

According to police, BJP supporters gathered at Barama Bazar to show black flags to the Congress leaders.

“As 30-40 Congress workers on motorcycles passed the area, ‘Gaurav Gogoi Go Back’, ‘Congress Go Back’, ‘Rakibul Go Back’ slogans were raised, triggering tension,” a police officer said.

When the Congress convoy returned through the same route after the meeting, suspected BJP supporters pelted stones at the opposition party’s vehicles.

Police said Congress workers later returned to the spot with sticks, further escalating the situation, with both sides hurling stones at each other.

Some journalists also sustained minor injuries in the stone-pelting, they said.

Addressing the presser, Hussain said a “murderous attack” took place on the convoy of Gogoi and Baghel in Assam, which was “shameful”.

“This is not an isolated incident, but such events have been happening across the country due to the collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission,” he claimed.

“For the past 12 years, a politics of intimidation and threats has been practised in the country, which is an assault on democracy. Whenever the BJP senses it is losing an election, it resorts to such tactics,” Hussain alleged.

The convoy faced a “planned” attack; the attackers first showed black flags and then pelted stones, Hussain said.

In this “life-threatening” attack, “masked assailants” also used iron rods, hockey sticks and cricket bats, he claimed.

“Acid was also thrown at the convoy,” Hussain alleged.

“AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan sustained serious injuries to his ribs and has been admitted to a hospital,” he said.

“Our state president had told the police that such an incident could occur, as a similar attack took place just a day before in the Dhing Dhupguri area,” he said.

 In such a situation, the question is who is responsible for the Nagaon attack, Hussain asked.

“This attack was not just on Congress leaders; two journalists were also beaten up, causing significant outrage among medipersons,” Hussain claimed.

“Whenever such incidents take place, people do not step out to vote out of fear, leading to a drop in turnout which directly benefits the ruling party, Hussain said.

“The Election Commission is maintaining silence on the deterioration of law and order, which we are all witnessing,” the Congress general secretary said.

The poll body’s “silence” on all such incidents is benefiting the BJP, which clearly indicates their “complicity”, Hussain said.

Listing the party’s demands from the EC, Hussain said a report should be sought from the Nagaon DC and SP.

“Officers responsible for the attack should be suspended. There should be an independent investigation into the incident and all the previous attacks. The FIRs and the investigation report should be made public,” he said.

Hussain also demanded that security be provided to the opposition leaders, candidates, workers and journalists until the elections are complete.

“We hope the EC will set aside its discrimination and take action,” he said.