The political confrontation between Congress leader Pawan Khera and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has escalated after Khera alleged that Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, held multiple passports and questioned her nationality and financial dealings. Sarma strongly rejected the claims, calling them fabricated and legally baseless, and said he would pursue criminal action against Khera for allegedly manufacturing evidence.
Khera, at a recent press conference, displayed three passports he said belonged to Riniki Bhuyan Sharma from different countries, including the UAE, and tied them to wider accusations of financial irregularities. Sarma responded that the documents shown were fraudulent and attempted to discredit the claims as politically motivated.
Sarma said Assam Police, working with the Government of India’s diplomatic channels, verified the passports and found the UAE documents to be fake and not linked to his wife. He framed the episode as an attempt to malign his family with forged material rather than a legitimate probe into wrongdoing.
The chief minister also attacked the scale of the financial allegation — a purported asset figure of Rs 52,000 crore — calling it implausible. “If a CM earns for 20 years, he still will not be able to make Rs 52,000 crores,” Sarma said, emphasizing that the number even exceeded the state’s budget and lacked basic economic plausibility.
Sarma further downplayed other discrepancies highlighted by Khera, describing spelling errors and variations in place-of-birth entries as minor clerical mistakes rather than proof of fraud. He framed those inconsistencies as insufficient to substantiate the serious charges being levelled.
Announcing legal retaliation, Sarma said he would file charges against Khera under relevant sections of law, accusing him of fabricating evidence and conspiring criminally. He warned that Khera could face arrest and imprisonment in Assam as the case moves forward.
Intensifying the political stakes, Sarma implicated Rahul Gandhi, alleging a broader conspiracy behind the accusations. He accused Gandhi of backing Khera and said, “He had it in his head that people in Assam are stupid, and he’ll talk nonsense. I think Rahul Gandhi is also with him and wants him to be sent to jail soon.” The exchange signals a likely legal and political showdown that could further polarise the state’s discourse.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/elections/video/himanta-biswa-sarma-mocks-rs-52000-crore-claim-of-congress-says-it-exceeds-assams-budget-1371051-2026-04-06?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-06 08:30:00
