Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife, Riniki Bhuyan, have found themselves at the center of a political storm following allegations by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. Gogoi claimed that a media firm associated with Riniki Bhuyan was granted a central subsidy of Rs 10 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana.
In response to these allegations, the chief minister and his wife issued a strong denial and, on September 14, threatened Gogoi with a Rs 10 crore defamation suit.
So, what exactly are the allegations, and what has been the fallout from this controversy? Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
The Allegations: The Congress party presented a document claiming that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s company had received a subsidy of Rs 10 crore. Gogoi, an Assam Congress leader, alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had used his influence to secure this subsidy for his wife’s firm. He questioned whether central government schemes were being misused to benefit the ruling party. Himanta Biswa Sarma, in response, stated, “I would like to clarify that neither my wife nor the company she is associated with has ever received any financial subsidies from the Government of India.”
Documentary Evidence: Gogoi cited a document to support his claims. He urged the chief minister to inform the central government if there had been any hacking of the Ministry of Food Processing’s website. Gogoi pointed out that the website clearly listed the name of Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s company and that the Rs 10 crore government grant had been approved. He shared a link to the Ministry of Food Processing’s website, which displayed the list of companies and promoters that had received the Rs 10 crore government subsidy.
The Document Details: The document in question listed Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s Pride East Entertainment Private Limited as one of the agro-processing cluster projects under the APC Scheme.
This controversy has generated significant public and political interest, with both sides standing firm in their positions. The allegations, if proven true, could have far-reaching implications not only for the individuals involved but also for the credibility of government schemes and their implementation. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will be resolved and what impact it may have on the political landscape in Assam.
