NEW DELHI: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised the searches carried out by the Assam Police at party leader Pawan Khera's Delhi residence on Tuesday, stating that the "witch hunt" stands as proof that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is "facing imminent defeat".
Assam Police arrived at Khera's residence in Delhi earlier in the day amid the controversy over the party's claim that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife holds three passports. The searches came after Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, lodged an FIR over the issue on Monday.
Reacting to this, Ramesh took to X and said, "The deployment of a full army of police officials to arrest my colleague Pawan Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that the Assam CM is disturbed, desperate, and rattled."
"This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds. Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide. It also proves that the CM is facing imminent defeat, " the Congress General Secretary added.
Meanwhile, Assam Police said that they could not find Congress leader Pawan Khera at his Delhi residence and his whereabouts are unknown, while the authorities are working to "trace him out".