Sat Mar 15 16:56:36 UTC 2025: **Assam Congress Spokesperson Arrested, Sparking Political Row**
GUWAHATI, INDIA – The arrest of Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh has ignited a fierce political battle between the Congress and the ruling BJP in Assam. Singh was arrested Saturday for a social media post questioning the status of cases against three senior BJP leaders, including a former state chief and two current MLAs.
The arrest followed a complaint filed by the wife of BJP MLA Manab Deka, stemming from a March 13th X (formerly Twitter) post by Singh that linked a news report about a 2021 rape conviction to the BJP leaders. Singh was taken into custody from his Guwahati home by Lakhimpur district police, with assistance from Guwahati Police, reportedly without prior notice or warrant.
Congress leaders have strongly condemned the arrest. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, called the action “worse than atrocious,” while Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, alleged that Singh was “brutally dragged” by police and denied the right to speak with his lawyer. Gogoi further criticized the Assam police for their swift action against Singh, contrasting it with a lack of action against BJP workers who recently assaulted two police constables. He suggested the police were being used against political opponents.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma defended the arrest, stating that Singh’s post constituted a caste-based insult against a Dalit woman. He accused the Congress of condoning such behavior. The incident continues to escalate tensions between the two parties in the state.
First Piper 