Guwahati, April 6: Political tensions escalated in Assam on Monday as Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi raised questions regarding Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family’s alleged foreign assets and connections. This followed a strong denial from the Chief Minister’s wife regarding the accusations.
Gogoi took to the social media platform X, demanding answers from the Chief Minister on five specific points. These included inquiries about whether Sarma’s wife holds a ‘Golden Visa’ for Dubai, if such a visa is linked to an Indian passport, and whether any family member owns property or runs a business abroad.
He also questioned whether any such assets were disclosed in Sarma’s election affidavit. Gogoi stated that if the Chief Minister has nothing to hide, he should welcome an investigation, intensifying the political clash between the BJP and Congress in the election-bound state.
In response, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the Chief Minister’s wife, vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them baseless and absurd. She clearly stated that neither she, her children, nor her husband has any business interests or properties in Dubai or elsewhere outside India.
In a counterattack, Riniki questioned Gogoi about his family’s financial dealings, asking if his wife has ever had a bank account in Pakistan and whether he would make such information public. She further accused Gogoi of changing his stance, noting that his previous claim was related to a Golden Visa on an Egyptian passport, which he has now linked to an Indian passport. “You backed down within 24 hours,” she remarked.
This exchange highlights the growing political strain in Assam ahead of upcoming elections, with both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress engaging in personal and direct attacks. While Gogoi has called for transparency and potential investigations, the Chief Minister’s family has categorically rejected the allegations, asserting that they possess no hidden foreign assets or interests.
The controversy is likely to intensify political debates in the state, with both sides expected to adopt an aggressive stance in the coming days.
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