Congress pursuing a politics of corruption, communalism and conflict: Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal

Guwahati: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal launched a sharp attack on the Congress, and its INDIA bloc allies, accusing them of pursuing a politics of corruption, communalism and conflict while attempting to undermine democratic institutions whenever electoral outcomes go against them.

He said the opposition was increasingly frustrated by the growing public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his vision of a developed India.

Addressing a press conference in Siliguri as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy campaign, Sonowal said the opposition was trying to create confusion and distrust at a time when India was advancing under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.


“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India is moving forward with confidence, development and national resolve. But the Congress and its allies are unable to accept the people’s mandate. Instead of offering a constructive alternative, they are spreading misinformation and attempting to weaken the very institutions that sustain our democracy,” Sonowal said.

“They have taken a negative step that is not in the country’s favour,” Sonowal said. Sonowal’s opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Sonowal said the party needed to explain why it was opposing a process aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of voter lists.

He pointed out that intensive revisions of electoral rolls had been undertaken on several occasions, including during Congress-led governments, and argued that the objective remained unchanged: ensuring that electoral rolls contain only eligible Indian citizens.

“The electoral roll must be correct and must comprise bona fide Indian citizens,” Sonowal said, adding that every eligible citizen must have the right to vote, while illegal immigrants must not be allowed to influence the democratic process. He said the integrity of the electoral system was fundamental to national security and the credibility of India's democracy.

Drawing on his experience in Assam, Sonowal accused Congress of compromising national security through its approach to illegal immigration. He cited the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, arguing that the legislation had made it difficult to identify and deport illegal immigrants. He said the Act had triggered a prolonged public movement in Assam, driven by the demand to identify, delete and deport illegal immigrants. The Supreme Court subsequently struck down the legislation as unconstitutional in 2005. Sonowal was the petitioner in the case that led to the landmark judgment. He said the issue remained central to the protection of Assam’s identity, security and demographic balance, and accused the Congress of failing to address it when it had the opportunity to do so.

Sonowal alleged that the Congress had repeatedly questioned the credibility of democratic institutions after electoral defeats, targeting the Election Commission, the judiciary and the electoral process itself. He said the opposition had questioned electronic voting machines and had also raised objections to elections conducted using ballot papers. “Those who want to weaken the institutions that give strength to India's democracy are acting against the country's interests,” he said.

Referring to the Congress’s electoral record since 2014, Sonowal said the party had lost 56 state Assembly elections between 2014 and 2025. He also pointed to its prolonged absence from power in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, saying voters had repeatedly rejected its politics.

On the INDIA bloc’s rally at Ramlila Maidan, Sonowal said the organizers had projected a gathering of one million people. “That was a flop show,” he said, adding that the rally had exposed the opposition’s declining public support and weakened its morale.

Highlighting the difference between the previous Congress-led governments and the Modi government, Sonowal said India’s response to security threats had undergone a fundamental change. He said that under Prime Minister Modi, India had demonstrated the political will to respond firmly to attacks against the country. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he accused the Congress and its allies of questioning the operation instead of standing firmly behind the armed forces. “When the people of India stand united behind our armed forces, the opposition chooses to question their actions. This exposes where their priorities lie,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal also referred to the recent geopolitical crisis, saying that despite concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies, the Modi government had ensured the management of essential supplies, including fertilizers, LPG and LNG, while facilitating the safe return of Indian ships.

He said Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic engagement, global standing and decisive leadership had helped India navigate complex international challenges while protecting national interests. Sonowal said the transformation of India under Prime Minister Modi was visible in the delivery of basic services and infrastructure to millions of people.

On the Northeast, Sonowal said the region had remained neglected under successive Congress governments but had emerged as a priority under Prime Minister Modi’s Act East Policy. He cited railway track doubling and electrification, improved road and air connectivity, and major infrastructure investments as evidence of the region’s changing development landscape. He said the scale of connectivity projects, backed by an investment pipeline of Rs 7 lakh crore, reflected the Centre’s commitment to integrating the Northeast with the national growth story.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has placed the Northeast at the centre of India's development journey. The region is no longer on the margins of national policy. It is emerging as a gateway to Southeast Asia and a key driver of India's Act East vision,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal reiterated that the government's action against illegal immigration would continue and welcomed the new West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for its initial Cabinet decisions on the issue. Concluding his address, Sonowal accused Congress and its allies of being driven by the pursuit of political power and family interests rather than a commitment to nation-building.

“They are frustrated, totally frustrated. The people of India have already rejected them time and again, and they will continue to reject them,” he said. Calling for public support behind Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Sonowal urged people to stand together against what he described as forces seeking to derail the country's development.

“The positive force will have to stand against the negative force,” he said, calling upon voters to reject divisive politics and support the vision of a strong, secure and developed India.