Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for targeting Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi over alleged Pakistan links, and said bringing a political opponent’s family and children into the discourse crosses a line.Speaking to reporters in Guwahati after visiting the cremation site of singer Zubeen Garg at Sonapur, Priyanka said dragging Gogoi’s family into political exchanges reflected what she termed as “wrong politics”. She maintained that political disagreements must remain issue-based and should not extend to targeting family members.Her remarks came amid continued attacks by Sarma on Gogoi over alleged Pakistan links. Priyanka, who was on two-day visit to Assam amid poll buzz, defended Gogoi, describing him as a leader focused on constructive and inclusive politics, and said such personal allegations indicated a shift towards divisive discourse. She said people in Assam were capable of seeing through such tactics.At the same time, she questioned Sarma’s repeated references to a decade-old episode concerning his possible elevation as a Congress chief minister. She said decisions in politics evolve with time and it was not appropriate to keep revisiting old developments.She said the Chief Minister should instead address present-day concerns and outline a clear roadmap for the state’s future.Priyanka also urged the state leadership to speak about employment, development and governance priorities, particularly for the next five years. Stressing that young people and women are seeking opportunities, she said public discourse must focus on jobs and welfare rather than political accusations. She asserted that voters cannot be distracted indefinitely and are increasingly demanding accountability.She also alleged that there had been a concentration of economic power and misuse of public resources in the state. She claimed that assets belonging to the people of Assam were being transferred to select business interests, raising concerns over transparency and fairness. Describing corruption as a betrayal of public trust, she said the scale of such issues is becoming evident to the electorate.Referring to her visit to Zubeen Garg’s cremation ground, she said her intention was solely to pay respects to a cultural icon who stood above political divisions. She emphasised that such spaces must remain free from political activity and retain their dignity.Appealing directly to voters, especially the youth, Vadra called for support for what she described as “positive politics” centred on development and unity. She said there was a growing realisation among the public that the state may be at a turning point, with increasing demand for change driven by concerns over governance, employment and accountability.
