Guwahati, April 9 – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Thursday that the police were fulfilling their duty by investigating Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with a case filed by the Chief Minister's wife regarding allegations against her of possessing multiple passports and foreign properties.
Sarma also criticized state Congress President Gaurav Gogoi over his wife and children's British nationality, saying, "How can a person who cannot serve our Indian family, serve us?"
Speaking to reporters at the state BJP headquarters after the Assembly elections concluded, Sarma said, "We have put the police behind Khera. Whom else will we put? It's not the ULFA that is pursuing him; it's the police. If there's an FIR, it's the duty of the police to act on it."
"Police are servants of the law, and they are going to the house of a person named in a case, which is legal... The police are paid a salary to go to the house of criminals," he said.
Sarma was responding to Khera's claim that the CM had "unleashed" the police on him due to allegations against his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
A team of Assam Police had searched the Congress leader's Delhi residence on Tuesday, acting on a complaint lodged by Bhuyan Sharma, although they could not find Khera.
Sarma said, "Gaurav Gogoi went to vote (in Jorhat) with his mother, not his wife. I went with my wife… If his wife could have gone with him, it would have been nice."
"This proves that my allegations that he couldn't make his own family Indian are true. How can such a person serve us?" he added, seemingly referring to the opposition alliance projecting Gogoi as its chief ministerial candidate.
Sarma has been criticizing Gogoi over his wife retaining her British nationality and their two minor children also holding their mother's country's passports.
"During the entire campaign, nobody saw his wife or children. How can he criticize us? We are proud Assamese people. His father was a proud Assamese, but not him," he said, referring to former three-time Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
"I can't think of any politician, especially one with an Ahom lineage, whose wife and children are Christians, and not Assamese or Indians. In frustration, Gogoi has befriended Khera and is making false documents (against his wife)," the CM claimed.
Sarma criticized the Congress for "using" Zubeen Garg's name during the election and questioned whether their leaders will continue visiting the late singer's cremation ground now that the polls are over.
Garg died in Singapore on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea. The 52-year-old singer had gone to the Southeast Asian nation to perform at the 4th edition of the North East India Festival.
The Chief Minister said that if the BJP retains power, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented but not in haste.
"It is in our manifesto to bring the UCC. But in Assam, we have different tribes and communities, and they will be consulted. We will not bring it in haste," he said.
He also affirmed fulfilling the promises made in the party's manifesto.
Sarma added that the conduct of the Assembly elections in a single phase was a testament to the return of peace in the state, which will open the doors for more development and investment.
Asked about his prediction for the BJP and its allies' tally in the elections, Sarma said, "We will get about 90 seats. Then, the opposition will have around 36 seats, which means the position of Leader of the Opposition will remain. But if we get 100 seats, then the Leader of Opposition’s position won’t be there.”
The Assam Assembly has 126 members.
He refused to write off any opposition leader and said, “Everyone gets as per their destiny. I can only say that as of today, the BJP’s fortunes are good. I don’t know what will happen in 2031.”
Sarma also hit out at two local media houses, claiming that these two will be "politically and intellectually finished" if he retains power.
He once again raised questions on the AJP's Guwahati Central candidate Kunki Chowdhury over her mother’s non-Assamese origins and accused her family of indulging in land grabbing near Guwahati.
"If Himanta Biswa Sarma were not here, these people would have even got the Padma awards. They are speaking of the Gen Z, but they cannot see that the BJP has given tickets to youngsters like Rupali Langthasa (in Haflong)," Sarma said.