Assam minister Ashok Singhal

GUWAHATI: The use of “gobi farming” imagery by an Assam minister Ashok Singhal after the Bihar poll results has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress, who allege that the reference alludes to the Bhagalpur communal riots. Singhal, in a post on X on Friday afternoon, shared a photograph of cauliflower cultivation with the caption: “Bihar approves Gobi farming.”Assam Congress president and deputy leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, condemned the post, calling it a “shocking new low” in political discourse. He said the imagery was “widely associated with the Logain massacre of 1989, where 116 Muslims were killed and their bodies concealed under cauliflower plantations during the Bhagalpur violence.”

“It is both vulgar and shameful,” Gaurav wrote, adding that invoking such a tragedy “shows how far some are willing to descend in public life.”Gaurav further alleged that such a mindset was encouraged by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, whom he accused of harbouring hatred toward minorities. “This is not what Assam is. Assam is the land of Mahapurush Sankardev, Lachit Borphukan and Azaan Pir. And next year, the people of Assam will end the rule of hate and greed,” he said, referring to the upcoming assembly election.