SC remarks in Pawan Khera case prompt Congress to urge Assam CM to reconsider stand

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on May 1 urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reconsider his position in the case involving Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, citing recent observations made by the Supreme Court.

Singhvi said the Chief Minister should review his stance “regardless of Monday’s outcome,” particularly in light of the remarks recorded in the judgment. He noted that the Supreme Court had referred to several public statements made in connection with the matter, adding that many of them were “highly inappropriate” and lowered democratic standards.

He further pointed out that most of the charges against Khera were bailable, questioning the larger handling of the case.

Stressing the importance of democratic freedoms, Singhvi said political dissent must be protected in any democracy, warning that the fundamental right to freedom of speech comes under threat when such space is curtailed.

Also Read: Supreme Court flags “political rivalry” angle in case against Pawan Khera

The remarks came after the Supreme Court of India criticised observations made by the Gauhati High Court while granting anticipatory bail to Khera in a case linked to remarks against Assam CM's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar, in its order uploaded on May 1, granted the pre-arrest bail to Khera subject to certain conditions. The court had reserved its verdict on April 30 in the matter.

The latest development has added fresh political significance to the case, with Congress leaders portraying the apex court’s intervention as a reaffirmation of constitutional protections around dissent and free speech.