Congress Accuses Assam CM of Holding Foreign Passports and Concealing Assets
Serious Allegations Against Assam Chief Minister
A file image of Congress leader Pawan Khera in Guwahati. (Photo:PTI)
New Delhi/Guwahati, Apr 5: The Congress party has made significant allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, and his spouse, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. They claim that Riniki holds multiple foreign passports and has failed to declare overseas assets in her election affidavits.
During a press conference in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera revealed that documents obtained from international sources suggest that the Chief Minister's wife possesses three active passports from the United Arab Emirates, Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt.
Khera expressed astonishment at the nature of these documents, stating, “We have received some documents from our supporters abroad. The nature of these documents is unprecedented against a sitting Chief Minister. Even we were shocked.”
He raised concerns about how an Indian citizen could hold multiple foreign passports, emphasizing that Indian law prohibits dual citizenship.
“We want to know how the wife of a Chief Minister, whose political stance is rooted in an anti-Muslim agenda, can hold passports from two Muslim-majority countries. We also seek clarification on how she can possess dual citizenship when Indian law forbids it,” he stated.
According to Article 9 of the Constitution and Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, it is illegal to hold Indian citizenship alongside foreign nationality voluntarily. Gaining citizenship in another country automatically revokes Indian citizenship.
“Does Riniki Bhuyan Sarma even hold Indian citizenship?” he questioned.
Khera further alleged that both the Chief Minister and his wife have undisclosed financial interests abroad, including properties in Dubai and a company registered in Wyoming, USA, which he claimed were not mentioned in their Election Commission affidavit.
Referring to documents related to a firm named “Riniki Bhuyan Sarma Asset Collective LLC”, Khera alleged that this entity has financial holdings and business plans, including ventures in hospitality.
He questioned the choice of Wyoming as a business jurisdiction, citing its favorable tax structure and privacy provisions for corporations.
“Why Wyoming? Because it has no income or franchise tax. Non-residents in the US often establish companies there, as LLCs are not subject to income tax, making it a popular choice for privacy and asset protection,” he explained.
Khera called on the Election Commission to investigate these allegations and urged for a thorough inquiry into the matter.
In response, Chief Minister Sarma dismissed all allegations as “malicious, fabricated, and politically motivated,” accusing the Congress of trying to mislead voters ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.
“Today’s press conference reflects the deep frustration and panic within the Congress party. As Assam moves towards a decisive mandate, such baseless attacks only expose their desperation,” Sarma stated.
He announced plans to initiate both criminal and civil defamation actions against Khera within 48 hours.
“My wife and I will be filing defamation cases. He will be held fully accountable for his reckless and defamatory statements,” the Chief Minister asserted, expressing confidence in the judicial process.
Sarma emphasized that the truth would be revealed in court and expressed belief that the people of Assam would not be influenced by what he termed “propaganda.”
This exchange signifies a notable escalation in the political rhetoric between the BJP and Congress as the state elections approach, with both parties exchanging serious accusations as campaigning heats up.