The Indus Zone Tech Desk | Bengaluru, October 28, 2025 | Priyank Kharge vs Himanta Biswa Sarma
A heated war of words between Karnataka’s IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma continues to dominate political discussions online. What began as a debate over the location of semiconductor companies has now turned into a full-blown political spat filled with personal jabs and accusations on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Kharge Calls Sarma’s Remarks “Politically Rabid”
On Tuesday, Priyank Kharge slammed Himanta Biswa Sarma for his “politically rabid” remarks, reigniting the verbal battle between the two leaders.
Kharge cited an old X post by Sarma from March 2024, where the Assam Chief Minister himself had mentioned that thousands of Assamese youths were undergoing training in Bengaluru.
“Dear CM @himantabiswa, you yourself said that thousands of Assamese youth are being trained in Bengaluru. I’m glad Karnataka’s tech ecosystem supports them. A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed instead of such rabid political comments,” Kharge posted on X.
This was a direct response to Sarma’s earlier comment where he called Kharge “a first-class idiot” during a media interaction on Monday, October 27, 2025.
The Origin of the Dispute
The argument began after Priyank Kharge accused the Central Government of pressuring semiconductor companies to set up operations in Assam and Gujarat, both BJP-ruled states, instead of Karnataka, which has a well-established tech ecosystem.
Kharge questioned whether these states had the technical talent and skilled workforce required for semiconductor manufacturing.
In response, Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Kharge of insulting the youth of Assam, claiming that his remarks suggested Assamese youth were not competent enough for high-tech industries.
“He has insulted the entire youth of Assam by saying they are not educated or capable,” Sarma said in a statement to the media.
Kharge Defends His Statement
Countering Sarma’s accusations, Kharge clarified that his words had been taken out of context by the BJP and Assam CM.
“My statement was about how the Centre is forcing companies to shift investments to Gujarat and Assam, despite these firms showing interest in Karnataka — a state with proven engineering talent and a mature tech ecosystem,” Kharge wrote on X.
He further criticized the BJP government’s record in Assam, stating that the state continues to rank low in health, education, and economic growth despite nearly a decade of BJP rule.
“Instead of twisting my words, the Chief Minister should focus on improving opportunities for Assam’s youth so they don’t have to migrate to other states,” he added.
Congress and BJP Join the Tussle
The controversy quickly attracted responses from both political camps.
Ramesh Babu, Congress’s communication chief, supported Kharge, saying Sarma’s comments were an insult to the people of Karnataka and the Dalit community.
Meanwhile, Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s national IT department, attacked Kharge on X, accusing him of failing to attract major tech investments to Karnataka.
“Under Kharge, Karnataka lost out on Google’s $15 billion data center investment, which went to Vizag. Two semiconductor projects have chosen Assam and Gujarat instead. What is his talent apart from being the son of the Congress President?” Malviya wrote.
Kharge’s Counterattack on BJP
Priyank Kharge responded sharply, accusing the Prime Minister of poaching investments from southern states like Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu in favor of Gujarat.
“Even an NDA minister questioned giving a $2 billion subsidy for a project creating just 5,000 jobs — that’s ₹3.2 crore per job! Gujarat seems to enjoy divine support for such deals,” Kharge remarked.
He also hit back at the BJP’s “dynasty politics” taunt, urging them to first address family-based leadership within their own party before targeting others.
“If your own leaders can have ‘Parmatma’s krupa’ for technology, why can’t I?” Kharge quipped sarcastically on X.
A Clash Beyond States
The online confrontation between Priyank Kharge and Himanta Biswa Sarma has gone beyond the semiconductor debate. It reflects the growing rivalry between Congress-ruled Karnataka and BJP-ruled Assam, with each side using social media as a political battleground.
The issue also underscores India’s competitive race for semiconductor investments, as multiple states vie to attract global tech giants amid the central government’s Make in India and Digital India initiatives.
