Minister Piyush Hazarika Strongly Condemns: ‘Direct Attack on Assamese Culture and Tradition, Incendiary Conspiracy’
Staff Reporter, Guwahati, January 14: A social media post by the Assam Pradesh Congress wishing people on the occasion of Bhogali Bihu has triggered widespread controversy in the state. Along with the Bihu greetings, the post featured an AI-generated (artificial intelligence-created) image showing the state BJP headquarters engulfed in flames.
Reacting sharply, Cabinet Minister Piyush Hazarika described the post as a direct attack on Assamese culture and traditions. Sharing the Congress post on his own social media account, the minister strongly condemned it in harsh terms, writing:
“This is not a joke. The anti-indigenous Assam Pradesh Congress has now directly attacked Assamese traditions and Sanatan culture. The tradition of burning ‘Bhelaghar’ during Bhogali Bihu carries a unique meaning and deep cultural significance for the Assamese people. By distorting this sacred tradition and sharing an image of the BJP office in flames, Congress is inciting a particular section of people to attack our organizational offices and homes.”
He further stated:
“We never burn the homes of people who oppose our religion and culture. Today is a sacred day for Assam, when we promote peace, harmony, and brotherhood. Yet Congress, in the name of this holy festival, has grossly misrepresented Assamese culture and is conspiring to create a Nepal-like situation in Assam. Such inflammatory actions will never be tolerated.”
The tradition of burning the Bhelaghar during Bhogali Bihu is an integral part of Assamese culture. This custom symbolically burns away the sorrows and difficulties of the old year, ushering in peace, prosperity, and joy for the new year.
By using this sacred symbol for political purposes and superimposing it with an image of a burning BJP office, the Congress post has drawn massive criticism across social media platforms.
The incident has significantly heated up the state’s political atmosphere on the very day of Bhogali Bihu. BJP leaders and workers have termed the Congress’s action an “insult to Assamese culture” and are expressing strong outrage on social media.
Reports indicate that the Assam Pradesh Congress has already deleted the controversial post, but the wave of criticism and controversy continues unabated.
Political analysts believe that this incident could lead to further political polarization in the run-up to the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly elections.
