The case will reportedly be moved before the designated Court of Civil Judges in Guwahati...
Digital Desk: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma has filed a defamation case against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for alleging that her company received a subsidy of Rs. 10 crore from the central government.
The case will reportedly be moved on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, before the designated Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division), Kamrup Metro in Guwahati.
Earlier, Prideeast Entertainments Pvt Ltd's CMD Riniki Bhuyan had stated that she would sue Gogoi for his alleged "slanderous campaign" if she wasn't satisfied with it.
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the chairperson and managing director of Prideeast Entertainments Pvt Ltd, issued a statement saying, "I am therefore forced to file a case of defamation with Rs 10 cr in damages against him in the court of law to protect the reputation of our hardworking employees from this slanderous campaign of Sri Gaurav Gogoi - Hon'ble Member of Parliament."
She added that the accusations were an attempt to smear and discredit an Assamese company run by a woman entrepreneur.
"This is 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 woman entrepreneur," the statement added.
Additionally, the wife of the chief minister claimed that her company was qualified to take part in government-sponsored initiatives and incentive plans.
"Like any other qualified company, Prideeast Entertainments Pvt Ltd. is qualified to take part in government-sponsored programs and incentive plans. Prideeast Entertainments Pvt Ltd. has not requested or received any government assistance in the current matter, which relates to the PM Kisan Sampada Scheme, despite completing all eligibility requirements", the statement further added.
The Assam chief minister and Gaurav Gogoi got into an argument after the latter claimed that the CM Sarma had assisted his wife's company in receiving a subsidy of Rs 10 crore from the central government under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana.
However, CM Sarma strongly refuted the accusation, claiming that his wife did not profit from the subsidies.
A screenshot from the website of the Ministry of Food Processing, which Gaurav Gogoi also shared, showed that the central government had authorized a grant of Rs 10 crore for Riniki Bhuyan's company.
Additionally, he distributed a response made in Parliament by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
Talking to ‘X’, Gogoi wrote, "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.”
Gourav Vallabh, the national spokesperson for the Congress, reiterated the same.
"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. 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. Additionally, he receives a grant of Rs 10 crore for it," he stated on Thursday during a press conference.
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