Rahul’s ‘body double’ used during Assam visit to be identified soon: Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said he will share the name and address of the ‘body double’ allegedly used by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the state.

In a press conference on Thursday, Sarma had accused the Congress MP of using a ‘body double’ during the journey, during which he had, citing a media report, claimed that the person waving at people while sitting in the travel bus. The person was probably not Rahul. Of course Gandhi.

“I don’t just say things. The name of the duplicate, and how it was done – I will share all the details. Just wait for a few days,” the chief minister said on the sidelines of an event in Sonitpur district, when reporters asked about the allegation against Gandhi.

”I will be in Dibrugarh tomorrow and will be out of Guwahati the next day also. Once I come back to Guwahati, I will give the name and address of the duplicate,” the BJP leader said.

The Manipur-Maharashtra Nyaya Yatra led by Gandhi had visited Assam from January 18 to 25, during which the Congress MP alleged that Sarma was ‘India’s most corrupt CM’. The opposition party also alleged problems by the BJP-led government in denying or granting permission for the route through the state.

The situation reached its peak when Congress leaders and workers broke police barricades set up to stop them from entering the main city limits of Guwahati. An FIR was filed against Gandhi and others over the incident, with Sarma later saying that he would be arrested after the Lok Sabha elections as he did not want to ‘politicize’ the issue before the elections.

Sarma said Congress would need all Gandhis – Sonia, Priyanka and Rahul – to defeat him in the state. He said, “Let them bring Priyanka Gandhi’s son also.”

They have already raised their hands (in surrender). They could not do it through Rahul, so they will now bring in Priyanka and then Sonia,” Sarma said, referring to the Congress’ proposed program in the state associated with Priyanka Gandhi.

On the prospects of BJP and its allies in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, the CM said, “We have 11 and a half confirmed seats. We are working on how to change this to 12. We are not worried about any list (of candidates) of Congress.

The state sends 14 members to the Lok Sabha, of which currently nine are from BJP, three from Congress, one from AIUDF and one independent.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)