In a blistering online retort, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s lecture on democratic etiquette amid the heated Pawan Kheda controversy.
Posting on X, Sarma minced no words: ‘No need for me to learn about democracy, public debate, or manners—certainly not from A.M. Singhvi. Civility flees the room when Singhvi enters.’
Sarma reframed the dispute, calling out what he sees as a vicious smear campaign against his apolitical wife. He alleged that national TV was weaponized with fabricated foreign documents to defame her, far removed from legitimate political exchange.
Expressing unwavering faith in the judiciary, he said, ‘Courts will eventually address this outrage—punishing those who used falsehoods to malign a woman and manipulate elections.’
He accused Singhvi of cherry-picking battles: ‘It’s simple to rant in my absence. That’s not engagement; it’s deliberate avoidance of open dialogue.’
Sarma wrapped up with a resolute vow: ‘Merely the start. Truth prevails.’
The backdrop involves Supreme Court granting anticipatory bail to Congress’s Pawan Kheda for comments linked to Rinki Bhuyan Sarma. The bench, led by Justices Maheshwari and Chandurkar, imposed safeguards.
Singhvi had lambasted Sarma’s involvement, citing court remarks on unbecoming public rhetoric that erodes democratic standards. He stressed safeguarding disagreement and speech freedoms.
This latest clash has ratcheted up BJP-Congress animosity in Assam. With accusations flying thick and fast, the episode highlights risks of personal vendettas spilling into politics.
Legal experts predict prolonged scrutiny, as Sarma’s response galvanizes his base while exposing fault lines in opposition tactics. The ‘Satyameva Jayate’ sign-off echoes a broader narrative of resilience against perceived injustices.
