Assam Chief Minister Alleges Congress Used Pakistani Channel Material in Press Conference
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made serious allegations on Monday, claiming that the entire press conference conducted by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi was based on material supplied by a Pakistani television channel. Addressing his own press conference, Sarma revealed that both he and his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Pawan Khera for what he described as the use of 'fraudulent documents' to make false allegations.
Claims of Fake Passports and Pakistani Sourcing
Sarma asserted that the passports allegedly linked to his wife were completely fabricated. "The original UAE passport was uploaded on social media by a Pakistani individual. They (Congress) did AI Photoshop manipulation on the passport. Tipu Sultan had uploaded the original passport on social media. The Egyptian passport is also fake. You can verify this through Google Reverse image search," Sarma stated emphatically.
Explaining the origin of the press conference material, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the content shared by Congress leaders was sourced externally. "Yesterday, Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi conducted two press conferences, one in Delhi and one in Guwahati. During our thorough research, we discovered that the entire material of their press conference was supplied by a Pakistani social media group," he revealed. The Chief Minister added that Pakistan-linked channels had recently broadcast multiple election-related shows favoring the Congress party.
Legal Consequences and Police Investigation
The Assam Chief Minister issued a stern warning about the legal consequences of using fraudulent documents to influence public opinion. "Normally, when you raise an issue before the public with fraudulent documents, it attracts sections 420 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code. When such allegations are specifically used to influence the outcome of an election, higher penalty provisions apply, including the possibility of life imprisonment," Sarma explained.
Sarma confirmed that his wife had already filed an FIR in response to the allegations. "Yesterday, my wife filed an FIR, and I am confident that the police will register the case under the appropriate sections of law and take necessary legal action," he added.
Technical Inconsistencies and Government Verification
On the specific issue of Dubai and other passports, Sarma categorically dismissed all claims as completely fake. "The Assam Police have already initiated a formal inquiry. Official confirmation has been received from a Dubai government website that the Dubai passport mentioned in the allegations is entirely fake. The Indian government has also reconfirmed that the Dubai passport is fraudulent," he stated.
He further clarified that reports on the other passports linked to his wife are expected from the respective governments soon. "Reports on the other two passports will be received by Monday or Tuesday. The photograph used in one of the passports is definitely not that of my wife," Sarma stressed emphatically.
Sarma highlighted numerous technical inconsistencies across the alleged documents, calling them clear evidence of fabrication or sophisticated digital manipulation. He maintained that the allegations represent part of a politically motivated campaign by the Congress party ahead of the upcoming Assam assembly elections.
Congress Response and Background of Controversy
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi responded to the Chief Minister's allegations with a pointed jab regarding the Dubai passport controversy. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote: "Reading about the Golden visa in Dubai. It is a long-term residence visa which enables investors to live in the United Arab Emirates."
The controversy originated from claims made by Pawan Khera, who alleged that documents suggested Sarma's wife holds multiple active passports, raising serious questions about possible violations of Indian law. Khera questioned the chief minister's stance on dual citizenship provisions: "Himanta Biswa Sarma's entire politics is based on hatred against Muslims, but how does his wife hold passports from two Muslim countries? According to Indian law, you cannot hold dual citizenship, so does Rinki Bhuyan Sarma also hold an Indian passport?"
Khera further demanded a comprehensive investigation into the chief minister's financial and property links abroad, alleging that his wife's Dubai and United States assets were deliberately concealed in official election affidavits. The passport and foreign asset controversy follows a series of allegations raised by Khera earlier, who questioned multiple passports, overseas shell companies, and undisclosed properties linked to the Chief Minister's family.
In response to these allegations, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that he would pursue both criminal and civil defamation cases against Pawan Khera and expressed complete confidence in the judicial process to reveal the truth. The political confrontation continues to escalate as both sides prepare for the upcoming electoral battle in Assam.
