8 hours ago
Last Updated:June 20, 2025, 20:05 IST
Assam CM alleges over 5,000 foreign-run social media accounts are backing state Congress.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference, at Lok Sewa Bhawan, in Dispur, Guwahati. (IMAGE: PTI)
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged that over 5,000 social media accounts run from Pakistan and Bangladesh and other Islamic nations are boosting the online presence of the state Congress unit.
“It is surprising that they do not comment on or like posts by Rahul Gandhi or even the Indian Congress. They are only focused on a particular leader and the Assam Congress," Sarma was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Himanta Biswa Sarma did not name the Assam Congress leader in question, but it appeared he was referring to Gaurav Gogoi, who took charge as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president in the last week of May.
The Assam CM claimed that social media accounts from 47 countries, mostly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, have been unusually focused on Gogoi’s activities and the state Congress unit’s recent moves.
He said this is the first time he saw “so much foreign involvement in Assam politics".
“We are not concerned with the change in the party’s leadership in the state, but this development has taken place in the last month and there must be some link. For the first time, there is so much foreign involvement in Assam politics in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections," Sarma said.
He said the issue is related to “national security" and added that the government is not ruling out that “some of the accounts may be from within the state".
Sarma then revealed that he has “ordered a forensic audit" of the accounts while pointing out that some of the 5,000 accounts are being run with their location marked as Guwahati.
He also said these social media accounts, apart from posting about Assam politics, are also reportedly sharing content linked to Islamic fundamentalist causes, including pro-Palestine messaging, Iranian narratives and statements by Bangladesh’s chief advisor Mohammad Yunus.
He said a forensic audit revealed that 700 of the accounts originated from Bangladesh, 350 from Pakistan, 246 from Saudi Arabia, 86 from Kuwait and 35 from Afghanistan.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...
Read More
Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India
First Published:News politics Pakistan, Bangladesh-based Social Media Accounts Boosting Assam Congress Online, Says Himanta
