Guwahati, Sept. 22 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took a sharp swipe at the previous Congress regime in the state over wildlife protection, asserting that his government's concerted efforts have successfully brought rhino poaching down to "zero" in Kaziranga National Park.

In a video message posted on X, the Chief Minister gestured a "zero" with his hand while underscoring the turnaround in the state's wildlife conservation record on the World Rhino Day, celebrated on September 22.

"Why am I making a 'zero'? When there was a Congress government in Assam, 40 to 45 rhinos were killed every year, and there was no check on it. Assam was widely defamed because of this," Sarma said.

Contrasting the previous administra...