Himanta Biswa Sarma calls Priyank Kharge a “First-Class Idiot”; Kharge hits back saying CM twisted h
Guwahati/Bengaluru: A sharp political war of words erupted between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Karnataka Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge on Monday after Kharge’s remarks questioning the availability of “talent” in Assam and Gujarat triggered widespread outrage.
Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Chief Minister Sarma launched a scathing attack on the Congress leader, calling him a “first-class idiot” and accusing him of insulting the youth of Assam. “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 said Assam does not have educated youth. It is an insult to the entire Assamese youth,” Sarma said.
The controversy began when Priyank Kharge, son of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, questioned why major semiconductor projects were being set up in Assam and Gujarat instead of Karnataka, which he claimed had superior infrastructure and engineering talent.
“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 had remarked during an interaction on Sunday.
The statement quickly snowballed into a major political controversy, with BJP leaders across the country slamming Kharge’s remarks as “arrogant and insulting.” Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika called his statement “deplorable and unbecoming of a public representative,” while BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress minister of demeaning the youth of both Assam and Gujarat.
Responding to the backlash, Priyank Kharge issued a strong rebuttal on social media and in media statements, accusing Himanta Biswa Sarma of deliberately twisting his words. “As usual, the BJP and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma are twisting my words. My statement was clear and specific — it was about how semiconductor companies were being pressured to set up in Gujarat and Assam, even though they had expressed a clear preference for Karnataka due to our engineering talent and established ecosystem,” Kharge said.
The Karnataka minister further lashed out at the Assam government’s performance, citing NITI Aayog’s latest report. “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. 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 alleged.
Kharge added that instead of giving political spin to his remarks, Sarma should focus on improving governance in Assam. “Why are Assam’s young people leaving their state to find work elsewhere? 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 third-rate crook,” he said in a sharp counterattack.
The political spat has drawn national attention, with leaders from both parties exchanging barbs online. While BJP leaders framed Kharge’s statement as an insult to northeastern states, Congress circles defended him as merely highlighting the Centre’s alleged bias in diverting investments away from Karnataka.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NCB busts secret drug lab in Karnataka's Mysuru; four held
New Delhi (PTI): The Narcotics Control Bureau has busted a secret drug manufacturing laboratory in Karnataka's Mysuru and arrested four people from Rajasthan after seizing narcotics worth Rs 10 crore, the agency said on Friday.
This crackdown began on January 28 in Gujarat's Surat, where federal officials intercepted a SUV in the Palsana area. The vehicle was found carrying about 35 kg of Mephedrone.
Followingthe seizure, the Narcotcis Control Bureau (NCB) arrested the alleged mastermind of this trafficking racket named Mahindra Kumar Vishnoi and three others. All four suspects are residents of Rajasthan's Jalore district.
The investigation led to officials to a "clandestine" drugs manufacturing laboratory located in Hebbal industrial area of Mysuru.
The laboratory was being operated under the guise of a chemical manufacturing unit for cleaning purposes. The facility had been rented by a co-accused and relative of Vishnoi, the NCB said in a statement.
"Drugs worth Rs 10 crore (market value), Rs 25.6 lakh in cash, an SUV and 500 kgs of chemicals used in the manufacturing of drugs have been seized during the operation," it said, adding that the lab is understood to be established in 2024.
According to the NCB, Vishnoi is a "habitual offender" who "conceived" the idea of manufacturing synthetic drugs in secret labs while he was incarcerated in a drugs trafficking case. He has three drug-related cases registered against him in Rajasthan and one in Gujarat, the NCB added.
