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Sarma said the Congress leader insulted the people of the state with his comments about Assam’s talent
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge. (PTI file photos)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday lashed out at Congress leader Priyank Kharge for questioning the availability of skilled youth in Assam.
Calling Kharge a “first-class idiot”, Sarma said the Congress leader had insulted the people of the state with his comments about Assam’s talent.
“Priyank Kharge is a first-class idiot. He has insulted Assamese youth, and Congress has not yet condemned this. Perhaps, we might file a case against him because he has said that Assam does not have educated youth. It is an insult to the entire Assamese youth,” Sarma told reporters.
#WATCH | Guwahati | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, “Priyank Kharge is a first-class idiot. He has insulted Assamese youth, and Congress has not yet condemned this. Perhaps, we might file a case against him because he has said that Assam does not have educated youth. It is an… pic.twitter.com/F6vQeqHIxu— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2025
Kharge, who is a minister in the Karnataka government and the son of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, made the controversial remark on Sunday while speaking about the semiconductor industry.
He questioned why major semiconductor projects were being set up in Assam and Gujarat instead of Karnataka.
“Why are semiconductor industries going to Assam and Gujarat when they actually want to come to Bengaluru? All the investments meant for Karnataka are being arm-twisted by the Central government to go to Gujarat. What is there in Gujarat? Is there talent there? What is there in Assam? Is there talent there?” Kharge said.
Shameless dynast Priyank Kharge whose only talent is that his father is the President of the Congress party now insults youth of Assam, Gujarat and says“Is there talent in Assam, Gujarat”Congress hates north east. It kept entire NE behind for decades, did not build infra,… pic.twitter.com/0B5No0twy5
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) October 27, 2025
The statement triggered a sharp response from BJP leaders across the country. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Kharge of “insulting the youth of Assam and Gujarat”, while Assam minister Pijush Hazarika called his remarks “deplorable and unbecoming of a public representative”.
Responding to the criticism, Priyank Kharge said his comments had been deliberately twisted by the BJP and the Assam Chief Minister. “As usual, the BJP and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma are twisting my words. My statement is clear and very specific, it was about how semiconductor companies were being pressured to set up in Gujarat and Assam, even when they had expressed a clear interest in Karnataka because of our engineering talent and established ecosystem,” Kharge said.
As usual, the BJP and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma are twisting my words. My statement is clear and very specific, it was about how semiconductor companies were being pressured to set up in Gujarat and Assam, even when they had expressed a clear interest in Karnataka because of our… https://t.co/wPKmjQhUBq— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 27, 2025
He went on to attack Sarma’s record, citing Assam’s poor performance in health, education and economic growth indicators. “After nearly a decade of BJP rule, Assam today ranks among the bottom five states in crucial development indicators like health, education and economic growth, as per NITI Aayog’s latest report. The only thing Mr. Sarma has managed to grow is his own wealth. Every major scam or corruption case seems to trace back to his doorstep, while the youth of Assam are left without jobs or opportunities,” he said.
Kharge added that instead of “whitewashing his failures by giving my statements political spin”, the Chief Minister should focus on improving the lives of Assam’s young people. “Why are they leaving Assam to find work elsewhere?” he asked.
“The BJPs days in Assam are numbered. When Congress returns to power in Assam, our focus will be on skilling, employability and rebuilding faith in governance. We will create an environment, where talent thrives in every corner of the state and young people are free from the grip of corrupt governance and divisive politics of a 3rd rate crook.”
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
Assam, India, India
October 27, 2025, 16:32 IST
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