Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Welcomes Supreme Court's Ruling on Pawan Khera's Bail
Supreme Court's Intervention
File image of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (Photo - @CMOfficeAssam / X)
Guwahati, Apr 15: Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his approval of the Supreme Court's decision to suspend the Telangana High Court's ruling that had granted Congress leader Pawan Khera a week-long transit anticipatory bail in a case involving allegations against his spouse, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
In a press conference shortly after the Supreme Court's ruling in Kolkata, Sarma conveyed his confidence in the judicial system and raised questions about the authority under which the bail was granted.
“The Telangana High Court lacks the jurisdiction to issue transit bail since Khera is not a resident of that state. The Assam government sought intervention from the Supreme Court, which has now stayed the order. Let justice prevail,” he stated.
The controversy originates from Khera's claims regarding multiple passports and undisclosed foreign assets associated with the chief minister's wife, allegations that the Sarma family has categorically rejected as unfounded.
In response to comments made by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who called for an investigation into the claims, Sarma delivered a pointed rebuttal, questioning Gandhi's stance.
“If I were to make similar accusations against Rahul Gandhi, would he respond in the same manner? I am willing to make my and my wife's passport information public. Can Rahul Gandhi do likewise? Can he reveal the countries he has visited?” Sarma remarked, emphasizing the need for consistent accountability.
On legislative matters, the Chief Minister discussed the anticipated changes to the Women’s Reservation framework, indicating that the initiative was developed through discussions with various stakeholders.
“There will be a thorough debate in Parliament, but the primary goal is to ensure reservation for our mothers and sisters. This is a chance to make progress on this important issue,” he noted.
Sarma highlighted that while the specifics of the reservation's extent and implementation would be addressed in Parliament, the emphasis should remain on achieving 33% representation for women.
He also criticized the Opposition for attempting to shift the focus by introducing delimitation into the conversation. “The emphasis should be on women’s reservation. Delimitation is not the central issue in this session,” he asserted.
Previously, the Centre announced a special three-day session of Parliament from April 16 to 18 to discuss amendments aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Currently, the 33% quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, established through a 2023 constitutional amendment, is dependent on delimitation following the 2027 Census. Without modifications, this provision would not be actionable until 2034.
The proposed amendments seek to expedite this timeline, with the enlarged Lok Sabha anticipated to comprise 816 seats, including 273 designated for women.