Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, spouse of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has filed a lawsuit in opposition to Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi over his allegation of receiving undue favours from the central authorities. The allegations by MP Gaurav Gogoi, son of former CM Tarun Gogoi, that her enterprise Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. obtained a sizeable subsidy of Rs 10 crore from the central authorities is on the coronary heart of the defamation case.
According to her lawyer, senior advocate Devajit Saikia, the case was filed on Friday on the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Kamrup Metropolitan, Guwahati is scheduled to listen to the case on 26 September 2023.
The controversy erupted after a doc from the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries appeared which confirmed that Pride East Entertainments was granted ₹10 crore to arrange an agro-processing unit within the Nagaon district of Assam beneath the Agro Processing Cluster (APC) Scheme of the ministry. Pride East Entertainment runs a number of information and leisure TV channels, together with the Assamese information channel News Live and the English information channel North East Live. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma is the CMD of the corporate.
Gaurav Gogoi claimed that the Chief Minister had organized a considerable Rs 10 crore subsidy for his spouse’s enterprise by the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana of the federal authorities which sparked an escalation within the battle between the 2. The latter responded that his spouse had not benefited from any such subsidy and fiercely denied these accusations.
Gaurav Gogoi shared a screenshot of the doc from the ministry in help of his accusations on 13 September. However, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and Himanta Biswa Sarma preserve that though the corporate was discovered eligible for the grant beneath the scheme, they by no means utilized for the subsidy subsequently and due to this fact no govt subsidy has been taken by the corporate. But Gogoi continued to assault the CM and his spouse over the difficulty, after which the CM’s spouse filed the lawsuit in opposition to him.
The lawyer knowledgeable, “My client has claimed a defamation of Rs 10 crore against Gaurav Gogoi for various tweets on X. We have made it very clear that we never made any application to receive subsidy.” He defined that the appliance for a subsidy had not but been began which led to a show-cause discover and an electronic mail from the Ministry of Food Processing have been issued to his shopper’s firm on 26 May of this yr.
He highlighted, “The approval for the project was given on November 22, 2022. In the last email, we were told that our claim would lapse if we did not submit our proposal. We are not responding to anything to seek subsidy.”
Whatever the Congress chief wrote about Riniki Bhuyan Sharma and her firm on social media was unfaithful, in keeping with the counsel. He identified, “He did not do his homework. Getting approval for a project does not mean that a subsidy has been received. We will fight the case tooth and nail.”
As the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of her enterprise, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma beforehand introduced her intention to sue the Kaliabor MP and termed his feedback a smear marketing campaign meant to hurt the fame of an Assamese firm run by a lady entrepreneur. She strongly refuted the accusations and emphasised that her firm is simply as eligible as every other qualifying enterprise for government-sponsored programmes and incentive plans.
Pride East Entertainments Pvt Ltd asserted that regardless of assembly all eligibility necessities for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, it has neither utilized for nor obtained any authorities help.
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s response to the allegation
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma who’s the chairperson and managing director of the corporate, countered the costs by asserting that she would provoke authorized proceedings in opposition to the latter within the quantity of Rs 10 crore. She referred to the accusations as a “slanderous campaign” in opposition to the enterprise she is related to in a public assertion which emphasised that the Congressman attacked a 17-year-old Assamese firm with the intention to disparage and discredit the agency which upheld all authorized necessities.
The press launch posted on 14 September acknowledged, “Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. is an independent entity in existence since 2006 with business interests in varied sectors. It is a law-abiding company with all its financial records in the public domain. With a long and successful business track record, Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. like any other qualifying enterprise is eligible to participate in government-supported programmes or incentive schemes.”
It highlighted, “However, in the present case, pertaining to the PM Kisan Sampada Scheme, Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. has neither claimed or received a single paisa (coin) of government subsidy, despite meeting all the eligibility criteria.” The clarification famous that the costs are “nothing but an attack to malign and defame a 17-year-old Assamese enterprise, which has adhered to every aspect of the law, headed by a women entrepreneur.”
It additional learn, “To protect the reputation of our hard-working employees from this slanderous campaign of Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Honable Member of Parliament, I am thereby constrained to file a case of defamation with Rs 10 crore in damages against him in the court of law.”
My response in direction of the allegations raised in opposition to PrideEast entertainments Pvt Ltd pic.twitter.com/CQ9NkXlgNf
— RINIKI BHUYAN SHARMA (@rinikibsharma) September 14, 2023
Assam Chief Minister’s reply to the Congress MP
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Deputy Leader of the Indian National Congress within the Lok Sabha indulged in a raging confrontation on corruption allegations in opposition to his partner after her firm’s identify appeared in a central authorities listing which confirmed {that a} grant of 10 crore was obtained by it beneath the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana which was firmly declined by the CM.
I want to make clear that neither my spouse nor the corporate she is related to has ever obtained any monetary subsidies from the Government of India https://t.co/oqGG21nEp6
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 13, 2023
The Bharatiya Janat Party confused that no financial support was given to Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. by the central authorities when the Congressman voiced that “the Ministry of Food Processing website clearly shows the name of the person and the company she is associated with” and advised him to “report to the Union Minister if their website has been hacked.”
I want to reiterate once more with full accountability that my spouse and the corporate she is related to haven’t taken or obtained any subsidies from the Government of India. https://t.co/PeDhTfrlZq
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 13, 2023
The Congress MP posted the hyperlink to the web site of the Ministry of Food Processing and conveyed, “It shows the list of companies and promoters who have received the Rs 10 crore government subsidy. Please see serial 10,” after the declare of the cash transaction was categorically opposed by the Assam CM.
For the comfort of the Hon’ble Chief Minister I’m attaching the hyperlink to the web site of the Ministry of Food Processing. It reveals the listing of corporations and promoters who’ve obtained the Rs 10 crore authorities subsidy. Please see serial 10.https://t.co/rR2m9PH8DX https://t.co/O9krRaDSRW
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 13, 2023
Afterwards, the Congress chief uploaded the doc of a Lok Sabha reply of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and claimed, “Piyush Goyal’s reply has exposed the truth and both Ministers need to clarify.”
The entire day yesterday Himanta Biswa Sarma parroted one line relating to his spouse’s agency. For his profit I’m stating the reply of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in Parliament. Piyush Goyal’s reply has uncovered the reality and each Ministers have to make clear. https://t.co/JiSBuLHBw9 pic.twitter.com/5SOueOPb11
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 14, 2023
Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated that no such monetary help was offered to the enterprise and affirmed, “The reply itself clarifies the fact that the Government of India has not released any funds to the mentioned company.” He introduced, “If anyone can provide evidence to the contrary, I am willing to accept any punishment including retirement from public life.”
The reply itself clarifies the truth that the Government of India has not launched any funds to the talked about firm. I wish to emphasize as soon as once more that neither my spouse nor the corporate she is related to has obtained or claimed any quantity from the Government of India. If… https://t.co/70zQ1DGHTe
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 14, 2023
“Is the Hon’ble Chief Minister complaining to Union Minister Piyush Goyal,” the member of the Assam Congress questioned. “He is saying that Piyush Goyal has only approved the grant to the wife of Himanta Biswa Sarma but has not released the funds. How many more BJP politicians have used the PMKSY scheme to enrich their families,” he alleged.
Is Hon’ble Chief Minister complaining to Union Minister Piyush Goyal ? He is saying that Piyush Goyal has solely accepted the grant to the spouse of Himanta Biswa Sarma however has not launched the funds. How many extra BJP politicians have used the PMKSY scheme to counterpoint their households? https://t.co/qO2dHcEqqs pic.twitter.com/lpOfhnEcEW
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 14, 2023
Later the 2 leaders additionally dragged household historical past and different previous occasions into their verbal spat. Afterwards, Gaurav Gogoi requested the chief minister to return to the state meeting and debate the difficulty to which the chief minister answered, “I spent 90 minutes in the Assam assembly today, where I introduced a bill and made a statement. No one raised anything about any issue concerning me. For your information.”
Raising that subject was certainly necessary.
Anyway I spent 90 minutes within the Assam meeting at present, the place I launched a invoice and made an announcement. No one raised something about any subject regarding me . For your data https://t.co/aY4dpGXAYT
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 14, 2023
Himanta Biswa Sarma additionally confused that as a reputable enterprise organisation, Pride East Entertainments has full rights to use for and obtain govt help for tasks, and there wouldn’t have been any wrongdoing had the corporate obtained the grant. He additionally famous that the majority media corporations in Assam run companies in different sectors, which is a very authorized follow.
The background of the cost
The accusation was based mostly on a information story which claimed that in February 2022, 9 months after Himanta Biswa Sarma took workplace as chief minister, his spouse’s firm through which she owns the bulk share purchased roughly 10 acres of agricultural land in Kaliabor Mouza (which is situated in Gaurav Gogoi’s constituency).
Adarnya Pradhan Mantri Modi, your authorities has given Rs 10 crore subsidy to a personal firm run by the spouse of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa’s spouse. Is this revdi or rabri ? Is this why persons are paying tax ? https://t.co/BzfgTXtn5N
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 12, 2023
According to the report, Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. utilized for a subsidy beneath the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana to ascertain a meals processing unit and the Union Food Processing Ministry accepted a subsidy of Rs. 10 crore to the corporate on 10 November of final yr. The agricultural plot was reworked into industrial land inside months.
“PM (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi launched the Kisan Sampada Scheme to double the income of farmers in India. But in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma used his influence to help his wife’s firm get Rs.10 crore as part of credit credit-linked subsidy. Are central government schemes meant to enrich BJP,” Gaurav Gogoi alleged.
PM Modi launched the Kisan Sampada scheme to double the earnings of farmers of India. But in Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma used his affect to assist his spouse’s agency get Rs 10 crore as a part of credit score linked subsidy. Are Central authorities schemes meant to counterpoint BJP ? pic.twitter.com/ITqzrBCe4c
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 13, 2023
Himanta Biswa Sarma vehemently objected to the accusations after the chairman of the Congress Media and Publicity Department and All India Congress Committee member Pawan Khera requested, “Why you still deny” and uploaded photos of Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s skilled biography and the federal government listing which had her and Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. identify on it.
I utterly deny and reiterate that my spouse and the corporate she is related to, Pride East Entertainment Pvt Limited, haven’t obtained any subsidies from the Government of India. https://t.co/VBDGOuX29q
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 13, 2023
“The Pride East Entertainments Private Limited, whose Chief Executive Officer is Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, advertises itself as the premier regional media organization uniting the entire northeast region. But a short while after the Assam Chief Minister took the oath of office, this corporation purchased 50 acres of farmland in Nagaon, Assam. This agricultural terrain quickly transforms into industrial land in a matter of days,” claimed Gourav Vallabh, the nationwide spokesperson for the Congress in a press convention.
“Then, this company submits an application to the Government of India’s ‘Pradhanmantri Kisan Sampada Yojana’ stating that it will do the task of food processing. Furthermore, it receives a grant of Rs 10 crore for it. Is this the model to double farmers’ income, where the money allocated for a scheme dedicated to farmers was distributed as a grant to a company associated with Assam’s CM’s wife,” he requested.
Assam items of Congress and All India Trinamool Congress maintained the allegations in opposition to Himanta Biswa Sarma and his spouse Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, nonetheless, didn’t convey forth any proof to show their level. The Assam Assembly was additionally adjourned a number of occasions on 15 September because the Opposition MLAs continued to develop ruckus on the difficulty.
Notably, The PM Kisan Sampada Yojana is a complete package deal which goals to create fashionable infrastructure with environment friendly provide chain administration from farm gate to retail outlet.
