On Sunday, the Congress party accused Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, spouse of Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, of holding passports from three different nations and owning undisclosed properties and assets in the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Chief Minister Sarma dismissed these claims as unfounded and motivated by political agendas. He stated that both he and his wife would initiate defamation proceedings against Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who made these assertions during a press briefing.

During the press conference held in Delhi, Khera presented what he claimed were photographs of three passports belonging to Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, purportedly issued by the UAE, Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt.

Khera questioned the Chief Minister’s political stance, stating, “We seek clarity on how the Chief Minister, who has built his political narrative on animosity towards Muslims, can have a wife who holds passports from two Muslim-majority countries, as well as one from Antigua and Barbuda. We also want to ascertain if Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possesses an Indian passport. Is she also an Indian citizen? How is it possible for an Indian national to hold three passports from different nations?”

Furthermore, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma owns properties in the UAE and has a registered company in Wyoming, USA, which he claimed were not mentioned in Chief Minister Sarma’s official declarations. He suggested that they might be preparing to leave the country in the event of an electoral defeat.

In response, Chief Minister Sarma categorically rejected the accusations, labeling them as malicious, fabricated, and politically motivated. He expressed his intent to pursue both criminal and civil defamation cases against Khera within the next two days, emphasizing his confidence in the judicial system. “Once the truth is established in court, Shri Pawan Khera will face the repercussions of his reckless actions, and justice will prevail,” he stated.

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma is a prominent business figure in Assam, owning the state’s largest media company along with other ventures, including a private educational institution and a resort.

The Congress party’s accusations surfaced following Chief Minister Sarma’s year-long campaign against Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, in which he labeled Gogoi a “Pakistan agent” and initiated a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate, while also critiquing Gogoi for his family’s British citizenship.

Sukrita Baruah serves as a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express in Guwahati, where she delivers in-depth, on-the-ground reporting on the North East of India, a region known for its intricate ethnic diversity and significant geopolitical relevance.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Ethnic & Social Dynamics: In-depth reporting on regional conflicts and peace initiatives.
• Border & Geopolitics: Monitoring developments along India’s borders and their effects on local populations.
• Governance & Policy: Coverage of state elections, tribal council activities, and the execution of national schemes in the North East.

Before her current role, Sukrita was an Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi, where she honed her analytical skills in:

• Policy Analysis: Assessing the National Education Policy (NEP) and reforms at the university level.
• Student Affairs: Reporting on critical stories involving campus politics, entrance examinations, and challenges in primary and secondary education.

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