Assam CM rejects criticism as “unwarranted”; Singhvi calls remark inappropriate, urges review after Supreme Court relief to Khera
Guwahati: The political exchange over the Pawan Khera case intensified on May 1, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launching a sharp rebuttal to senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, even as the Congress cited recent Supreme Court observations to press its case.
In a strongly worded post, Sarma said, “I don’t need lessons on democracy, public discourse or decency,” accusing Singhvi of avoiding direct debate. He further alleged that “a woman with no political role was targeted and her character maligned using forged documents,” adding that he was confident the courts would ensure accountability.
Meanwhile, Singhvi urged the Chief Minister to reconsider his stance, pointing to remarks made by the Supreme Court while granting anticipatory bail to Khera. He described several public statements linked to the case as “highly inappropriate” and said they had lowered democratic standards. He also emphasised that most charges against Khera are bailable and warned that restricting dissent threatens fundamental rights.
Earlier, the Supreme Court, while granting relief to Khera, observed that the case appeared “prima facie politically motivated” and flagged concerns over the Gauhati High Court’s reasoning. The bench clarified that its observations were limited to bail and would not affect the trial.
Consequently, the case has taken on wider political significance, with both sides invoking constitutional principles as the investigation continues.
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