Guwahati (Assam), India - On March 16th, ANI reported that the detention of Reetam Singh, the spokesperson for the Assam Congress party, by Lakhimpur police in Guwahati sparked an intense back-and-forth between Jairam Ramesh, who oversees communications as the general secretary of the Congress party, and Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on X platform.
Although Jairam Ramesh criticized the detention as an "abusive use of law enforcement authority," Chief Minister Sarma supported the arrest, stating it was due to a caste-related slight made towards a Dalit woman.
Jairam Ramesh brought up the matter on X, sharing a link to a media article regarding Singh's arrest and mentioning Sarma.
"Mr. Chief Minister @himantabiswa, the detention of my junior colleague Reetam Singh (@SinghReetam) over a rather benign social media comment is utterly appalling," Ramesh stated.
The Chief Minister of Assam retaliated by challenging the Congress party’s position and calling out Ramesh for endorsing derogatory comments aimed at a Dalit woman’s spouse. Additionally, he hinted at a significant disclosure implicating a prominent Congress figure, Gaurav Gogoi, with connections to both the ISI and Pakistan.
"Sir, this case involves a caste-based slight aimed at a Dalit woman. Justifying the description of a Dalit woman’s husband as a rapist in a ‘perfectly reasonable’ social media post reflects greatly on where you all have steered the Congress party. However, hold tight—the major disclosure is still ahead—by September, your prominent leader’s connection with the ISI and Pakistan will be revealed by us," Sarma responded.
Jairam Ramesh retorted sharply, referring to Sarma as an " outgoing Chief Minister," and alleged that he was employing the police for political retaliation.
"Mr. Outgoing Chief Minister, cease deflecting from the genuine problem — which is the exploitation and mismanagement of police authority by you individually to benefit your connections and undermine your rivals," he stated.
It is reported that Reetam Singh was apprehended by the Lakhimpur police on Saturday at his home in Guwahati, following a complaint regarding a post made on social media.
These wrongdoers received the punishments they merited. However, what about @BJP4Assam officials implicated in rape allegations—Ministers and MLAs such as Manab Deka, former party president Bhabesh Kalita, and ex-Minister Rajen Gohain? Does the law apply equally to everyone? This was part of a post made by Singh on X on March 13.
When the authorities reached Singh's home, he alleged that they had violated proper protocol by failing to present a search warrant during their arrival.
A group from the Lakhimpur Police under the Assam Police is attempting to detain me without a warrant or prior notice. I presented them with the latest Guwahati High Court ruling which mandates that police must provide notice before an arrest. Any detention carried out against me without a warrant and proper notice would be considered contempt of Judge Mridul Kumar Kalita’s order,” Singh tweeted on X.
He additionally claimed that law enforcement officers were threatening to use force and enter his home, and stated that he declined to accompany them until they provided appropriate legal paperwork.
"The Assyam police are threatening to use force and enter. Despite my repeated insistence that I wish to view the Notice or Search Warrant under BNS," he said additionally.
At the same time, members of the Lakhimpur District Youth Congress demonstrated outside the Lakhimpur Sadar Police Station on Saturday in Guwahati to protest the detention of Reetam Singh. (ANI)
