New Delhi: Congress member of Parliament (MP) from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, Wednesday hit out at Assam Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly using his clout to get government subsidies for his wife’s company from the Government of India.
“PM Modi launched the Kisan Sampada scheme to double the income of farmers of 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 linked subsidy. Are Central government schemes meant to enrich BJP? (sic),” Gogoi wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
In his post, Gogoi included a purported document from the Ministry of Food Processing website which appears to show that Pride East Entertainment Private Limited, of which Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, is chairman and managing director, had been approved a grant of 10 crores against a project of 25.87 crores. The grant was allegedly approved under the agro-processing cluster (APC) scheme.
PM Modi launched the Kisan Sampada scheme to double the income of farmers of 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 linked subsidy. Are Central government schemes meant to enrich BJP ? pic.twitter.com/ITqzrBCe4c
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 13, 2023
The Assam CM has denied the allegation, saying that neither his wife nor her company had received any financial subsidies from the government.
“I would like to clarify that neither my wife nor the company she is associated with has ever received any financial subsidies from the Government of India”, said Sarma, also in a post on X Wednesday.
I would like to clarify that neither my wife nor the company she is associated with has ever received any financial subsidies from the Government of India https://t.co/oqGG21nEp6
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 13, 2023
Gogoi’s allegation followed a report by a news website this weekend, which claimed that the Assam CM’s wife had bought “huge agricultural land”, which was converted to industrial land. Sharma, the report claimed, then applied for subsidy under the Kisan Sampada scheme.
The Kisan Samprada Yojana envisaged a comprehensive package to create modern infrastructure and efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, to boost the food processing sector and help in increasing farmers’ incomes.
ThePrint has reached the Ministry of Food Processing on email for comment on the allegations. The report will be updated once a response is received.
War of words
Following Sarma’s denial of the allegation, Gogoi stepped up his attack. The Congress leader first said that the website clearly shows Sarma’s wife and her company as a beneficiary and then attached the link of the website to prove his point.
“The Ministry of Food Processing website clearly shows the name of the person and the company she is associated with. The Rs 10 crore government grant has also been approved. Please report to the Union Minister if their website has been hacked,” said Gogoi.
The Ministry of Food Processing website clearly shows the name of the person and the company she is associated with. The Rs 10 crore government grant has also been approved. Please report to the Union Minister if their website has been hacked. https://t.co/INLdu603Kh
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 13, 2023
To this, Sarma retorted, “I would like to reiterate again with full responsibility that my wife and the company she is associated with have not taken or received any subsidies from the Government of India.”
I would like to reiterate again with full responsibility that my wife and the company she is associated with have not taken or received any subsidies from the Government of India. https://t.co/PeDhTfrlZq
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 13, 2023
Gogoi kept up the attack, however, saying “For the convenience of the Hon’ble Chief Minister I am attaching the link to the website of the Ministry of Food Processing. It shows the list of companies and promoters who have received the Rs 10 crore government subsidy. Please see serial 10.”
For the convenience of the Hon’ble Chief Minister I am attaching the link to the website of the Ministry of Food Processing. It shows the list of companies and promoters who have received the Rs 10 crore government subsidy. Please see serial 10.https://t.co/rR2m9PH8DX https://t.co/O9krRaDSRW
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 13, 2023
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
Also read: Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam govt forms committee to draft anti-polygamy law