The war of words on X between Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress leaders intensified after he claimed that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had instructed party colleague Pawan Khera to level ‘false allegations’ against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife ahead of the state’s assembly elections.
In a post on X, Rijiju alleged that two Congress members informed him that Gandhi had instructed Khera to level false accusations against Sarma and his wife. The matter escalated into a defamation case against Khera. Subsequently, he was awarded a Rajya Sabha seat as a ‘reward’, which Rijiju claimed Khera ‘does not deserve’.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Rijiju wrote on X that two senior Congress leaders informed him Rahul Gandhi had instructed Pawan Kheda, at the final stage of the Assam election, to level false accusations against @himantabiswa and Madam Riniki. He further claimed that when these alleged fabrications backfired, Kheda was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat, which he argued Kheda does not deserve.
Row over Khera's remarks against Sarma, his wife
The dispute between Khera and Sarma broke out in April this year after the Congress leader claimed that Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, possessed foreign passports. A defamation FIR was subsequently registered against Khera following his assertion that Bhuyan holds three passports—issued by India, the UAE, and Egypt. He further alleged that Bhuyan owns undeclared luxury real estate in Dubai as well as a company based in the US state of Wyoming.
After the allegations surfaced, an FIR was lodged against Khera, leading to a raid on his residence in Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs also intervened, with Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita stating that Khera’s accusations against Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, were “false and fabricated.”
Continued spat between Khera, Rijiju
Responding to the Congress leader on X, Rijiju urged Khera not to be "needlessly abusive" and challenged his behaviour, even warning that he would report his "indiscipline" to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
"Dear Pawan Khera, I'll report to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma ji about your indiscipline conduct if you talk about half-naked swimming. Do you swim with a full suit & coat?" Rijiju posted.
The Minister went on to say, "You are a first-term MP, nominated by your party to the Rajya Sabha, while I have contested eight elections so far. That does not give you the right to make an indecent remark. I swim with my villagers to motivate my people and supporters. Rahul ji is not on my mind when I am with my people."
Rijiju also criticized the Congress party’s habit of comparing everything to Rahul Gandhi, saying, "But Congress started saying that I can’t swim like Rahul Ji. So I replied that I don’t undergo training for such activities—I’m a natural sportsman in our mighty rivers. There’s no need to be abusive all the time."