Dibrugarh: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a large election rally in Dibrugarh, accusing him of indulging in “politics of rumors” during the recent global oil crisis and contrasting BJP’s governance with what he called Congress “incompetence.”Addressing supporters at Dibrujan Playground while campaigning for sitting BJP MLA and Assam power minister Prasanta Phukan, Fadnavis framed the election as a choice between “Modi’s resilience” and “Congress’s incompetence.”
The rally opened on a lighter note as Phukan welcomed Fadnavis by singing the Hindi song, “Bambai se aaya mera dost… Dost ko salam karo,” drawing cheers from the crowd.Fadnavis then turned to a broader attack on Congress, alleging that Rahul Gandhi and the party spread misinformation during a period of global instability involving America, Israel and Iran.“You will see how incompetent this Congress party is. While countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Korea were forced to shut down schools and offices or declare emergencies due to oil and gas shortages, India had Modi Ji. He did not let there be a shortage of petrol or diesel for even a single day. Even in such a stable situation, Rahul Gandhi and Congress members spread rumours daily that gas and petrol would vanish. By repeatedly lying, they forced people into long queues. I want to tell the Congress: your enmity is with us, but do not harbour enmity toward India,” Fadnavis said.He argued that India remained insulated from fuel shortages because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foresight, even as several Asian countries faced disruptions.Fadnavis also praised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, crediting the BJP’s “double-engine” government for development and strong action against infiltration. He said the state government had moved decisively to protect the land rights of indigenous communities.Highlighting Dibrugarh’s growing importance, Fadnavis welcomed the move to develop it as Assam’s “second capital,” along with plans for a dedicated Assembly complex and a High Court bench in the city. He said the decisions reflected the BJP’s commitment to strengthening all regions of the state.Seeking support for Phukan, Fadnavis urged voters to return the BJP leader for a fifth term, saying coordination between the Centre and the state was vital for achieving the “Viksit Bharat” vision.He said the BJP stood for a “Nation First” approach, which he contrasted with what he described as the Congress party’s “Family First” politics.
