Assam CM terms charges by Cong leaders as 'malicious'; files Rs 500 cr defamation case
Guwahati (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday termed the allegations made by Congress leaders in a recent press conference as "malicious", and said he has filed a Rs 500 crore defamation case against them.
Addressing a joint press conference here on February 4, Gogoi, the Assam Congress president, had claimed that the party’s “investigation” has revealed that “almost 12,000 bighas of land have been occupied by the CM and his family across the state”.
“Today, I have filed a defamation case seeking Rs 500 crore in damages against Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Gaurav Gogoi for making false, malicious and defamatory allegations against me through a press conference,” Sarma posted on X.
Hours after Gogoi's allegations during the presser, Sarma announced that he would file a defamation case against the top Congress leaders for making "false and malicious" statements.
In another press conference on Monday, Gogoi had also accused the chief minister of "inciting genocide" against Muslims through his videos.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
