New Delhi, April 7 The Congress on Tuesday strongly criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after a police team visited the residence of party leader Pawan Khera here in connection with a case related to allegations he leveled against the BJP leader and his family, saying this is a "witch hunt" where a "bully" is using state machinery to silence the opposition.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the deployment of a full contingent of police officials to arrest his colleague Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that Sarma is "disturbed, desperate, and rattled."
"This is not due process, but a witch hunt, where a bully is using state machinery to silence the opposition, which is exposing his many wrongdoings. Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide," Ramesh said on X.
It also proves that Sarma is facing imminent defeat, Ramesh added.
An Assam Police team visited Khera's residence in Delhi on Tuesday to question him in connection with the case linked to allegations made against the Assam chief minister and his family.
The team formally informed the Delhi Police upon arrival, after which a local police team joined and is assisting in the proceedings, sources said.
This development comes amid a political tussle after Sarma alleged that the Congress used "false information" sourced from a Pakistani social media group to level charges against his wife regarding multiple passports and overseas assets. He termed the allegations an attempt to influence the Assam elections and a punishable offense.
Khera had alleged on Sunday that Sarma's wife possesses passports of three countries and that he concealed information about her properties, but the BJP leader "categorically rejected" the claims as "malicious" and "fabricated" and vowed to take legal action "within 48 hours."
Targeting Sarma as the campaign peaks for the April 9 election in Assam, Congress' media and publicity department head Khera showed, at a press conference, purported documents to support the allegations and demanded that the Election Commission cancel his nomination for allegedly concealing information in his poll affidavit.
The Congress has also filed a complaint with the Election Commission on Monday, demanding the cancellation of Sarma's candidature, contending that he did not mention his wife's alleged offshore assets in the poll affidavit.
