Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Rijiju Accuses Khera of False Assam Election Allegations
Kiren Rijiju and Pawan Khera, politicians from opposing parties, are arguing publicly.
Rijiju says Rahul Gandhi told Khera to make untrue claims about Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife.
He also says Khera was rewarded with a seat in India’s Rajya Sabha after the claims failed.
Khera had earlier made claims about the chief minister’s wife during Assam’s election campaign.
Sarma and his wife said those claims were fabricated and politically motivated.
The dispute became louder after Khera criticized a video of Rijiju swimming.
Khera was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in June.
The case connected to the allegations is still being investigated, and Khera has received anticipatory bail.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged Rahul Gandhi instructed Pawan Khera to make false allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma and Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
Rijiju claimed Khera received a Rajya Sabha seat as a reward after the allegations backfired.
The allegations followed a public exchange sparked by a video of Rijiju swimming in an Arunachal Pradesh river.
Khera alleged in April that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held foreign passports, owned Dubai property and controlled United States-based assets; the couple denied the claims.
Khera is on bail while an Assam Police investigation continues into allegations including false election statements, cheating, forgery and defamation.
- Who
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Pawan Khera, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
- What
- Rijiju alleged that Gandhi directed Khera to make false allegations and that Khera later received a Rajya Sabha seat as a reward.
- When
- Rijiju made the allegation on Wednesday; the underlying claims were made on April 5, and Khera was elected to the Rajya Sabha in June.
- Where
- The allegations concerned Assam, while the public exchange took place on X and involved a swimming video from Arunachal Pradesh.
- Why
- The accusation arose during an ongoing political dispute involving Khera’s allegations against the Sarma family and his criticism of Rijiju’s swimming video.
Rijiju and Sarma’s Position
Khera and Congress Context
Whether the election claims were false
Rijiju and Sarma’s Position
Rijiju called Khera’s allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma and Riniki Bhuyan Sarma false, while the couple described them as fabricated and politically motivated.
Khera and Congress Context
Khera made the allegations during the election campaign; the articles do not report a final finding establishing whether the claims were true or false.
Why Khera received a Rajya Sabha seat
Rijiju and Sarma’s Position
Rijiju claimed Khera was given the seat as a prize after the allegations backfired and said he did not deserve it.
Khera and Congress Context
Khera was elected unopposed from Karnataka and said Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, gave him the opportunity.
The swimming-video dispute
Rijiju and Sarma’s Position
Rijiju said Khera’s comments about his swimming were indecent and questioned Khera’s political experience and conduct.
Khera and Congress Context
Khera mocked Rijiju for invoking Rahul Gandhi in connection with the swimming video; Rijiju denied mentioning Gandhi in the video.
- Accuser
- Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju
- Target of allegation
- Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera
- Alleged instruction
- Rijiju said Rahul Gandhi asked Khera to make allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma and Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
- Rajya Sabha election
- Pawan Khera was elected unopposed from Congress-ruled Karnataka in June.
- Original claims
- Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held multiple foreign passports, owned property in Dubai and controlled United States-based assets.
- Responses
- Himanta Biswa Sarma and Riniki Bhuyan Sarma rejected the allegations as fabricated and politically motivated.
- Legal status
- Khera is on anticipatory bail; the Supreme Court set aside a Gauhati High Court order denying bail.
