Amid the raging debate over Citizenship Bill, Rahul Gandhi and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma exchanged barbs on Twitter after Congress president alleged that the BJP was trying to ‘polarise’ the North East for electoral gains and triggering 'unrest'.

Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Gandhi accused BJP of using religion and ethnicity as political weapons to polarise the region. “This type of politics, that pitches brother against brother & fans hatred, is evil & must be stopped,” Gandhi tweeted.

I am disturbed by the growing violence & unrest in the N East where religion & ethnicity are being used as weapons by the BJP to polarise the region for political gain. This type of politics, that pitches brother against brother & fans hatred, is evil & must be stopped.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 25, 2019

Responding strongly to Gandhi’s allegations, BJP’s point man in North East, Himanta Biswa Sarma asked Gandhi not to give value judgements. Sarma accused Congress of "strangulating North East region" for decades.

“We're talking to people to address genuine concerns. Some fake protesters, with bare or no support, are withering away. Rest assured, NE is safe!,” he said.

Dear @RahulGandhi~Perplexed by your anxiety. Are you aware how @INCIndia has strangulated NE for decades? Don't give value judgements. We're talking to people to address genuine concerns. Some fake protestors, with bare or no support, are withering away. Rest assured, NE is safe! https://t.co/oTKHJXNr6K

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 25, 2019

In the past too, the two leaders have had duels. In October, 2017, when Gandhi had tweeted a video featuring his dog ‘Pidi’, Sarma, a former Congressman had shot back by saying that once when he went to discuss important issues of Assam with him, Gandhi was busy feeding the dog.

Earlier this month, Sarma had said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi wants Jinnah to stay in India but does not want Hindus from Bangladesh here.