Assam CM Sarma hits back at Singhvi over Pawan Khera row
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has fired back at Congress's Abhishek Manu Singhvi in a pointed social media post, warning that the Pawan Khera controversy is 'just the beginning'. The exchange follows the Supreme Court granting Khera anticipatory bail in a case tied to alleged remarks about Sarma's wife — and signals a deepening BJP-Congress confrontation in Assam.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly hit back at Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on 1 May over the Pawan Khera controversy.
Sarma claimed a private woman was subjected to character assassination using "forged documents from other countries" on national television.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices J.K.
Chandurkar granted Pawan Khera anticipatory bail in the case linked to alleged remarks about Riniki Bhuyan Sharma .
Singhvi had criticised Sarma's handling of the case and invoked the need to protect dissent and free speech.
Sarma warned: "This is just the beginning, not the end.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 1 May launched a sharp counterattack against senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi over the ongoing controversy surrounding Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, asserting that he does not need "lessons on democracy, public discourse or decency" from anyone. The exchange has significantly escalated political tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress in Assam.
Sarma's Strongly Worded Response
In a combative post on social media platform X, Chief Minister Sarma said: "I don't need lessons on democracy, public discourse or decency from anyone, especially from A.M. Singhvi. Decency and him can never be in the same room."
Sarma argued that the core issue was not political debate but the alleged targeting of a private individual. He claimed that a woman with no connection to politics had been subjected to character assassination on national television through the use of what he described as "forged documents from other countries".
Judicial Accountability and Legal Proceedings
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the courts would eventually address the matter. "I am confident the courts will take note of this, sooner or later and the guilty will be punished for his brazen act of maligning a woman's character using false documents to influence electoral outcomes," Sarma stated.
The controversy is directly linked to the Supreme Court granting anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera in a case related to his alleged remarks concerning the Chief Minister's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar granted the relief subject to conditions, after reserving its judgment earlier.
Sarma Accuses Singhvi of Avoiding Direct Debate
Sarma also accused Singhvi of making public comments on platforms where he was not present to respond. "It's easy to speak on a platform where I am not present to respond. That is not called a debate — it is simply avoiding a fair exchange, one which you were espousing," the Chief Minister said.
Ending his statement on a combative note, Sarma added: "And let me be clear, this is just the beginning, not the end. Satyamev Jayate."
What Singhvi Had Said
The exchange was triggered after Singhvi criticised Sarma's handling of the Khera case, referring to recent observations made by the Supreme Court. Singhvi had said that certain public statements linked to the controversy were inappropriate and had lowered democratic standards. He also stressed the need to protect dissent and free speech in a democracy.
Political Fallout
The war of words has further deepened the political divide between the BJP and Congress in Assam, with both sides continuing to trade charges over the politically sensitive matter. This is not the first time Sarma and Congress leaders have clashed sharply in public; the two parties have been locked in sustained confrontation over multiple political and legal issues in the state. With Sarma's warning that "this is just the beginning", the dispute shows little sign of cooling down.
Point of View
Not social media, will need to adjudicate. Notably, the Supreme Court's decision to grant Khera anticipatory bail, rather than a clean chit, keeps the legal question open while the political temperature rises. Both sides are playing to their bases, but the real accountability test lies in what the judiciary finds when it examines the underlying evidence.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pawan Khera controversy in Assam?
The controversy centres on alleged remarks made by Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera concerning Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. Sarma has claimed that a private woman was targeted through character assassination using forged documents on national television, and a legal case has been filed in connection with the matter.
What did the Supreme Court decide in the Pawan Khera case?
The Supreme Court, through a bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar, granted anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera subject to conditions, after reserving its judgment earlier. The relief does not amount to an acquittal and the case remains legally active.
Why did Himanta Biswa Sarma attack Abhishek Manu Singhvi?
Sarma hit back after Singhvi publicly criticised his handling of the Khera case, citing Supreme Court observations and invoking the need to protect free speech. Sarma accused Singhvi of making comments on platforms where he was not present to respond, calling it an avoidance of fair debate.
What did Abhishek Manu Singhvi say about the controversy?
Singhvi said that certain public statements linked to the Khera controversy were inappropriate and had lowered democratic standards. He also stressed the importance of protecting dissent and free speech in a democracy, and referenced recent Supreme Court observations on the matter.
What are the broader political implications of this row?
The exchange has intensified BJP-Congress tensions in Assam, with both parties trading charges over the politically sensitive matter. Sarma's warning that 'this is just the beginning' suggests the dispute will continue to play out both in courts and in public political discourse.
