Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the spouse of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has publicly countered accusations from Congress asserting that she possesses multiple foreign passports and holds overseas assets. In a post on X, she asserted, “Neither I, nor my children, nor my husband have any business interests or assets in Dubai or anywhere outside India. Today’s claims are laughable.” This statement emerges amidst heightened political tension.

Sharma challenged Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi, to clarify whether his wife has ever maintained a bank account in Pakistan, urging him to make such information transparent. The initial claims were put forth by Congress figures Pawan Khera and Gogoi, alleging that Sharma holds passports from the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda, as well as owning properties in Dubai and managing a firm in Wyoming, USA.

Khera also suggested that these assets had not been reported in Chief Minister Sarma’s election affidavit, raising concerns regarding legal compliance under Indian law. The ongoing scrutiny comes as both parties prepare for the upcoming elections in Assam.

Rebuttal Claims That Allegations Are False

In response to the allegations, Riniki Sharma and her husband characterised the claims as politically motivated and backed by falsified documents. She disclosed that purported images and passports were allegedly altered, involving her picture and a lost Egyptian passport from a Pakistani social media group. This revelation has led to calls for accountability from her supporters.

Riniki identified several discrepancies within the alleged documents. She noted that the UAE Golden Visa is not equivalent to a passport and cannot be issued to non-citizens. Furthermore, the Egyptian passport attributed to her allegedly belongs to a different individual, displaying distinct facial features and mismatched identification numbers. She also highlighted that the Antigua and Barbuda passport was riddled with typographical errors, including inconsistencies in expiration dates and machine-readable zone (MRZ) codes.

In addition, she claimed that the company mentioned in Wyoming was fabricated and did not exist. These discrepancies, she contended, demonstrated that the allegations were “completely false and deliberately misleading.” Her pointed rebuttal comes during a time of significant political engagement ahead of the elections.

Political Context and Legal Responses

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the allegations as instruments manipulated by Congress to sway public opinion in Assam. He alleged that these fraudulent documents were part of a Pakistan-backed effort to interfere in the state’s electoral process. Sarma also confirmed that his wife had filed complaints against Khera, indicating a commitment to pursuing legal action against those spreading misinformation.

Riniki’s response on X gained traction, with numerous users, including supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), disseminating her clarifications while questioning the motives of Congress. She argued that the timing of such allegations appears strategically designed to adversely influence the political landscape leading up to the Assam Assembly elections.

As the political landscape evolves, the unfolding controversy underscores the escalating tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, highlighting the intersection of personal and political stakes for both sides ahead of critical electoral decisions.

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