A brief interview with AICC (Minority Cell) leader Rajesh Kumar Sethi.
Blogger:
# Elections are nearby in Assam and also few other states such as West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. How things are emerging in terms of preparation for the polls? As you work and hail from northeast India, what is your assessment on the appointment of Gaurav Gogoi as Assam pradesh Congress chief?
Rajesh Sethi :
We all are thrilled in the northeast. It's a far-sighted move with the high-powered killer instinct. You must have heard; a good beginning is half done. This is such a case. I welcome the move and salute political sagacity of our national president Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji, of Rahul ji and also organisational general secretary K C Venugopal ji. I have said earlier also now Himanta Biswa Sarma's utter frustration and nervousness is visible to all.
# What are the main election issues, your party would take up in Assam ?
Rajesh Sethi: These are early days. Our party is a disciplined organisation. Election issues in each state will be identified and highlighted at an appropriate time. But there is an internal mechanism for it. The Congress party has a robust system to identify these issues. But from my side as a common onlooker, I can say misgovernance will be a principal theme in Assam.
The last five years has been worst in terms of social harmony and the lack of it in the history of Assam.
Such a peace loving community in the state had been pushed towards polarisation. It's very sad.
# Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also raked up 'Pakistan connection' to Gaurav Gogoi's wife. Will it impact the voting pattern?
Rajesh Sethi:
Himanta ji is only trying to conceal his fear. The voters of Assam are smart enough. They know the ill-intent of the chief minister. Hundreds of Indians have visited Pakistan. All big leaders visit Pakistan and different countries. That does not make them anti-India. Visiting Pakistan is a non issue. Actually it is a non-starter. Himanta Biswa Sarma will regret in 2026 for conducting himself so cheaply.
He was also a Congressman and pretended to be loyal to Late Tarun Gogoi ji. But see today.
# Congress party from time to time raises the issue of corruption in Assam?
Rajesh Sethi :
Yes. Probably the last four years or so saw the extreme nature of corruption in Assam. The main points are that Assam is being sold, syndicate rule is going on. The Chief Minister and his family are looting the entire state. You may not believe even BJP old-timers are not happy with the manner things have progressed.
# There is a new controversy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said "chhoti ankh wala ganpati bappa". He was attacking Chinese and imports from China. But Congress leaders say he was insensitive to the people of the north east region?
Rajesh Sethi:
Of course, when a Prime Minister speaks, he should be sensitive about everything. These things matter a lot. because sometimes we see these cause a lot of trauma and harassment for people from the northeast when they come out to work or study outside the region. He could have made his point in a different manner. Such languages are often used to taunt the people of our region.
# Your party has now problems with Shashi Tharoor.
Rajesh Sethi :
Oh, on this I will not speak much. Mr Shashi Tharoor is also a senior leader and very competent. But in a party; we all must abide by discipline and what isthe party line. Has he fallen into bad company ? I do not know. But all-party delegations visiting different parts of the world are not serving any purpose.
Look what happened in Colombia. Our parliamentary team was there and the Colombian leaders sympathised and sided with Pakistan. It was such a big disappointment.
This is an example that shows despite the hype on the ground India's foreign policy has collapsed.
# Finally, let me ask you about the Inner Line Permit row in Dimapur these days? The Congress party can easily point out at the basic faultline. Will a state government sharing power with the BJP allow another 'Jammu and Kashmir of 1990s' wherein Hindus had to leave their own house?
Rajesh Sethi:
There are wheels within wheels with regard to the politics of NDPP-BJP regime. The less said is better. In Kashmir, what has happened ultimately.... that is for everyone to see. I maybe at pain today this side. But in Kashmir what is Omar Abdullah today - he is so-called Chief Minister of a Union Territory. Who is having the last laugh?
Land and property grabbers had their field's day in Kashmir.
In Nagaland, Marwaris, Bengali Hindus, Biharis and Assamese people came decades back. We all thought we are part of them....
Maram karibi na ho.... I say these days to my luck. Do you believe, I cannot face my children these days.
This feeling insecure is not exclusive to any one community. Just as our Naga brothers and sisters express genuine fears about protecting their identity, land, and culture — especially when they move out to cities across India; - we too, the long-settled non-Nagas, have every right to voice our concerns.
The BJP in Nagaland is doing picnic. Some people do not want Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), that is another game. Will these policies help natives? I have my apprehension. I am also against Bangladeshi influx.
But today uncertainty clouds our children’s future and this is our fate, my children's rightful place in a society we have slogged hard and invested every penny we had to build.
Innocent people's cries often have turned into fury. Some political elements have not understood that.
ends
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