Guwahati: The Congress on Sunday intensified its attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, pressing for answers over allegations of undisclosed foreign assets and multiple passports linked to his family.
At a press conference in Guwahati, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, flanked by party leaders Pawan Khera and Bhupesh Baghel, said the party had documentary evidence pointing to financial interests abroad and called for a thorough investigation.
The Congress reiterated claims first raised earlier in the day by Khera, who alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, holds passports from three foreign countries and owns properties overseas that were not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s election affidavit. He also alleged the existence of shell companies linked to the family.
Gogoi said the allegations raised “serious questions” about compliance with Indian law and sought clarity on whether multiple passports were held and whether foreign assets had been properly declared. “He will have to answer these questions,” Gogoi said, adding that the matter could have implications for disqualification.
The APCC chief further alleged that a company registered in the United States was linked to the Chief Minister’s family and raised concerns over its reported scale of investment, estimated at over 52,000 crores. He questioned why such interests were not reflected in official disclosures.
Baghel, addressing the media, accused the Chief Minister of avoiding direct responses to the allegations and relying instead on legal threats. He said the issues raised were in the public domain and warranted clear answers rather than defamation proceedings.
Khera, meanwhile, said additional details would be revealed in due course and called for full disclosure of any foreign business interests or assets linked to the Chief Minister’s family.
The Congress also questioned the Centre’s response, asking whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would address the allegations in line with their stated position on corruption.
The BJP has dismissed the allegations as “malicious and politically motivated,” with the Chief Minister asserting that neither he nor his family has engaged in any wrongdoing and announcing plans to pursue legal action.
The exchange marks a further escalation in the political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP as campaigning intensifies ahead of polling on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4.