‘How can his wife have 3 passports?’ Congress attacks Himanta, wife; Assam CM threatens defamation suit | India News
New Delhi: A new political conflict has erupted in Assam after Congress leader Pawan Khera’s complaint against the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa SharmaHis wife holds multiple foreign passports, prompting sharp rebuttals and legal threats from the BJP leader.The controversy began with Khera’s press conference in Delhi, where he claimed to have documents suggesting that Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, has three passports. “We have documents that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, has three passports. The first is a UAE Golden Card, the second is an Antigua and Barbuda passport and the third is an Egyptian passport. Two of these are from Islamic countries, yet they continue to openly claim religious allegiance,” he said.Khera escalated the attack by linking the issue to wider grievances. “You are seeing the picture of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma and his wife. Their names are linked to several allegations like land grabbing, misappropriation of temple funds, government subsidies and chit fund scams. But today, the documents we are presenting are directly related to issues outside India,” he said. Calling it a “stunning detail”, he added that he had “not one, not two, but three passports, which have not expired”.
‘Khera will suffer the fruits of his actions’: Himanta
Sarma dismissed the claims as politically motivated and said both he and his wife would file a defamation case against Khera within 48 hours. “Pawan Khera’s press conference today reflects the deep despair and panic within the Congress party. As Assam moves decisively towards a historic mandate, such desperate and baseless attacks only expose their sinkhole,” he wrote in X.“I categorically reject every allegation made by him. They are malicious, fabricated and politically motivated lies aimed at misleading the people of Assam,” he added, announcing the legal action. “I and my wife will file a criminal and civil defamation case against Mr. Pawan Khera within the next 48 hours. He will be held fully accountable for his reckless and defamatory statements.”“I have full confidence in the judiciary. Once the truth is established in a court of law, Shri Pawan Khera will face the consequences of his actions, and the law will take its due course,” he further wrote.
‘Embarrassment for Assam’: Gogoi
Assam Congress leader Gaurav also hit out at Himanta and called for further investigation. “Shocking allegations have come out regarding Himanta Biswa Sharma. Holding multiple passports and failure to declare assets is a serious and criminal offence. How much money has he sent from Assam to his bank account abroad? Needs more investigation,” he wrote, calling the Chief Minister “embarrassing”, “Questions must be answered and his crime must be paid.”“Sarma again responded by pointing out technical inconsistencies throughout the alleged document. In a detailed post, he listed what he called “serious inconsistencies” that point to fabrication. These include a “surname mismatch — ‘Sarma’ used instead of the official ‘Sharma'”, and a photograph that “appears to be a publicly available image, not an authenticated biometric capture”.Referring to an Antigua and Barbuda passport, he pointed out an “expiration date mismatch between printed field and MRZ”, while an Egyptian passport complained of “passport number mismatch… spelling error (‘Egyptian’) and wrong Arabic reference”.“These inconsistencies strongly indicate possible fabrication or digital manipulation. Truth will prevail. Those spreading misinformation will be held accountable,” Sarma wrote, adding, “I am sure Pawan Khera’s campaign of lies is nearing its end. Finally Mr. Khera will go to jail.”The escalating exchange comes just days before Assam goes to polls scheduled on April 9.
