'Disturbed, desperate, rattled': Congress vs Himanta over raids at Pawan Khera’s residence

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday sharpened its attack on Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after Assam Police searched party leader Pawan Khera’s Delhi residence, with senior leader Jairam Ramesh alleging misuse of state machinery in the ongoing passport row, meanwhile party chief Mallikarjun Kharge called on Centre for probe into allegations. The police action follows a criminal defamation FIR filed by Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma over allegations made by Khera that she holds multiple passports, ( that of India, UAE and Egypt), claims denied by the Sarma family. Hitting out at Centre Kharge said, “Centre must probe allegations against Himanta's wife possessing assets abroad, having passports of 3 countries.” Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Ramesh said the move showed the chief minister was “disturbed, desperate, and rattled”. In a post on X, he said, “The deployment of a full army of police officials to arrest my colleague Pawan Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that the Assam CM is disturbed, desperate, and rattled. This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds.”Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also questioned the police action, asking the chief minister to respond to the allegations instead of “threatening” critics. “Serious corruption allegations have been made against Himanta Biswa Sarma… Pawan Khera ji has made some allegations. Please respond to them… Why is your police coming to Delhi to threaten?” she said.The controversy stems from a press conference by Khera, where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held three passports and owned undisclosed assets abroad. The Sarma family has rejected the claims, terming the documents “AI-generated fabrications” and “doctored images”.Earlier, Sarma said he would take “stringent action” against Khera. “I will take stringent action against Congress leader Pawan Khera. Just wait for a few days. We will win at least 100 seats in the elections,” he said.The chief minister also alleged that Khera had “run away” to Hyderabad after the police reached his Delhi residence. “I have come to know through the media that the police have gone to his residence in Delhi, but he has run away to Hyderabad. The law will take its own course,” he told ANI.Sarma further rejected allegations regarding properties in Dubai, claiming documents cited by Congress were sourced without authorisation from Scribd, and reiterated claims of “Pakistani links” involving Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Khera. “Why did you take help from a Pakistani social media group?… my allegation is why Pakistan is helping Gaurav Gogoi,” he said. The political row has intensified ahead of the Assam assembly elections scheduled for April 9, with campaigning set to end today evening. Vote counting will take place on May 4.