• On PPE kit row, Himanta Biswa Sarma now refers to Kejriwal's old tweet to Gambhir

    National
    On PPE kit row, Himanta Biswa Sarma now refers to Kejriwal's old tweet to Gambhir




     Digital
    Desk:

    In
    the midst of the PPE kit row in Assam, where Assam chief minister Himata Biswa
    Sarma has been accused of giving a contract to his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, an
    allegation that the Aam Aadmi Party has now amplified, the Assam chief minister
    attacked Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, referring to his 2020
    tweet exchange with Delhi BJP MP cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir.
    "Suo moto, Delhi CM promised to acquire PPE kits from anywhere without
    putting out a tender. Why? Is his Deputy CM convinced that the CM is crooked
    because he requested someone to get PPE kits from somewhere right away and told
    the Delhi government will pay for them? There is no mention of a tender or
    anything like that "Himanta Biswa expressed himself on Twitter.



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    Following
    reports of an alleged PPE fraud in Assam, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish
    Sisodia accused Himanta Biswa of corruption on Saturday, alleging that as
    health minister, Himanta gave the contract to a firm in which Sarma's wife is a
    partner in 2020. According to Sisodia, one PPE kit cost Rs 990 under this
    contract, but the Assam government could acquire PPE kits from other companies
    for Rs 600 per piece.



     



    Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#424242">In response to Sisodia's
    claim, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the PPE kits were supplied by his wife's
    company as part of its corporate social responsibility programme, and that the
    government did not pay for them. Sisodia produced the supply order, while Sarma
    claimed that his wife's company had not raised a bill. Sarma reportedly
    threatened to file a slander lawsuit against Sisodia.



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    Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#424242">The letter from the
    corporation in issue to the Assam National Health Mission, which was published
    by the Assam chief minister on Sunday, stated that the supply of the PPE kit
    should be classified as CSR.



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    Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#424242">"The Assam NHM dutifully
    acknowledged this. This isn't corruption, Manish bhai; it's humanity. My wife
    did not commit a crime; instead, she attempted to assist Assam during its most
    critical period. It will not be tolerated if you throw mud at others. There
    will be legal repercussions for you "Himanta Biswa Sarma sent out a tweet.