Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of inciting encroachers to occupy forest land in the Paikan Reserve Forest, which led to a violent attack on police and forest personnel. Sarma stated that Gandhi's remarks emboldened the mob involved in the attempted illegal occupation. The BJP criticized Rahul Gandhi's comments, with spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam emphasizing that Sarma became Chief Minister due to the people's mandate. The Assam Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr. Numal Momin and other political figures responded to Gandhi's statements, recalling past instances of Congress-led state government dismissals and the Emergency of 1975. Opposition leaders from various states expressed differing views, with some supporting Gandhi's criticism of Sarma's governance and others dismissing it. The incident highlights ongoing political tensions between the BJP-led Assam government and the Congress party over land rights and governance issues.