Congress Challenges Assam CM on Allegations of Foreign Assets
Political Tensions Rise Over Allegations
File image of APCC Chief Gaurav Gogoi while nomination filing from Jorhat (Photo: Gaurav Gogoi/Meta)
Nagaon, Apr 6: Following Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's denial of Congress's claims about his wife allegedly possessing multiple passports and overseas properties, Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi has issued a challenge for Sarma to refute these allegations under oath on the Bhagavad Gita.
During a press interaction after an election rally in Raha, Gogoi questioned Sarma's integrity, suggesting that he might be concealing foreign assets and business interests while spreading misinformation about his political opponents.
After Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gogoi raised inquiries about whether Sarma's wife holds three foreign passports, owns property in Dubai, has companies in the US, or has assets in shell companies, Sarma responded by accusing the opposition of fabricating these claims based on false information from a social media group based in Pakistan.
"I reiterated my statement from yesterday and will say it again... I can swear on the Bhagavad Gita that I do not own any property in London as Sarma claims. I challenge him to do the same in a public setting," Gogoi stated.
The Jorhat MP emphasized that if such properties were not disclosed in Sarma's election affidavit, he could not later acknowledge their existence, as this could result in the disqualification of his candidacy.
"The questions are straightforward - does your wife have a Golden Visa for Dubai? Do you or any family member own property there? Is the Golden Visa issued on an Indian passport? Does any of your family members run a business abroad?" Gogoi queried.
"Has Himanta Biswa Sarma declared his or his family's wealth and properties abroad in his election affidavit? If he has nothing to hide, he should welcome an investigation," Gogoi added.
He asserted that if Congress gains power in Assam, they would initiate inquiries into Sarma's alleged undisclosed foreign assets and business dealings.
"We will take legal action against all illegal properties, businesses, and networks associated with him," the Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha declared.
Earlier in the day, Sarma held a press conference in Guwahati, asserting that these allegations were intended to sway the election results, which he claimed is "punishable under the law."
The Chief Minister also mentioned that his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, has lodged a police complaint against Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera regarding these allegations.
Khera had previously claimed that Sarma's wife possesses three passports from the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua-Barbuda, along with two properties in Dubai and assets in shell companies in the US.