Congress Leader Criticizes Assam Police Actions Amid Controversy
Congress General Secretary's Response to Police Searches
A file image of Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh (Photo:X)
New Delhi, Apr 7: Jairam Ramesh, the General Secretary of Congress, has condemned the Assam Police's search operation at the residence of party member Pawan Khera in Delhi, labeling it a "witch hunt" that indicates Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is on the verge of defeat.
The police arrived at Khera's home earlier today amidst ongoing disputes regarding claims that Sarma's wife possesses three passports.
This action followed an FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the Chief Minister's wife, on the previous day.
In response, Ramesh expressed on social media, "The mobilization of numerous police officers to apprehend my colleague Pawan Khera for merely asking essential questions in the public interest demonstrates that the Assam CM is anxious, desperate, and unsettled."
He further stated, "This is not a lawful procedure but rather a witch hunt, with a bully utilizing state resources to suppress and silence the Opposition's voice that is revealing his numerous misdeeds. Those who resort to intimidation are typically the ones who are fearful and have much to conceal. This also indicates that the CM is facing imminent defeat."
Earlier, Assam Police reported that they were unable to locate Pawan Khera at his residence and were actively trying to determine his location.
A police representative informed the media outside Khera's home, "A case has been filed... We intended to speak with Pawan Khera... However, we could not find him... We discovered some items in his residence, but I cannot disclose further details... We are currently unaware of his whereabouts, but we will locate him..."
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarma, addressing the media during a campaign event in Demow, Sivasagar district, accused Khera of having "fled" the capital.
He insisted that the allegations made by Khera had been disproven.
“It has been established that all documents are fraudulent. Egypt has confirmed that it’s a fake passport. Dubai has provided a similar statement. The United States has verified that Riniki owns no assets in the country. Therefore, it’s all fabricated. Just a day prior, he challenged us to arrest him, but now he has vanished,” the Chief Minister asserted.
The dispute arose after Khera alleged that Sarma's wife held multiple foreign passports, a claim that the Chief Minister and his family have vehemently denied.
Congress figures, including Gaurav Gogoi and Pawan Khera, have recently questioned the alleged foreign assets and connections of the Chief Minister's family, including assertions regarding properties in Dubai and foreign documentation.
These claims have been firmly rejected by the Chief Minister and his family. Riniki Sarma has also dismissed allegations of any foreign business interests or assets, labeling them as "baseless".