desk
Share
News Topical, Digital Desk : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday launched a scathing attack on a press conference held by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi, calling it based on fake material supplied by a Pakistani social media group. He described the allegations of multiple passports and foreign assets in the name of his wife, Rinki Bhuyan Sarma, as completely fake and a photoshopped AI.
The controversy began with a press conference held by Congress leader Pawan Khera in Delhi on Sunday. Khera claimed that the Chief Minister's wife, Rinki Bhuyan Sarma, holds passports from three countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt.
He also alleged that Rinki Bhuyan Sarma has property in Dubai and a company in America (Wyoming), which was not mentioned in the election affidavit.
Kheda questioned how Himanta Sarma's politics is based on anti-Muslim sentiment, so how can his wife hold passports from two Muslim countries? He also questioned dual citizenship under Indian law.
Himanta Sarma counterattacks
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to these allegations in a press conference on Monday, saying the UAE passport was originally uploaded on social media by a Pakistani man.
Congress used AI Photoshop to insert Riniki Sarma's name. The Egyptian passport is also fake, which can be confirmed with a Google reverse image search.
The Dubai government website has confirmed that the Dubai passport in question is fake. The Indian government has also confirmed it as fake. Reports on the other two passports are expected by Monday or Tuesday.
The photo used in the passport is not of Rinki Bhuyan Sarma. Sarma claimed that the entire content of both the press conferences held by Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi in Delhi and Guwahati was provided by a Pakistani social media group.
Pakistani channels allege
Sarma further said that in the past 10 days, a Pakistani channel has conducted at least 11 talk shows on the Assam elections, each concluding that Congress should win. He said this indicates Pakistani interference in the Assam elections and that law enforcement agencies will take it seriously.
FIR and legal action
The Chief Minister stated that his wife, Rinki Bhuyan Sarma, had filed an FIR against Pawan Khera yesterday. He himself had also filed a complaint alleging the use of fake documents. Sarma warned that misleading the public with fake documents is punishable under sections 420 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code.
Doing so to influence the election results can result in up to life imprisonment. He also stated that he would file civil and criminal defamation suits against Pawan Khera.
Congress's response
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi took a jab at the allegations with a post on X. He wrote about Dubai's Golden Visa, "Studying the Golden Visa in Dubai. This is a long-term residency visa that allows investors to live in the United Arab Emirates." Congress is adamant about the allegations and may demand an investigation by the Election Commission.
This controversy has emerged just before the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Voting in Assam will take place in a single phase on April 9, 2026, with counting of votes taking place on May 4, 2026. This election is considered crucial for the 126-member Assembly. Himanta Sarma called the allegations a pure political conspiracy and an attempt to influence the election.
He said that any company can be easily registered by paying just $199, but Congress has used fake documents obtained from a Pakistani group.
--Advertisement--
