Mother Of Assam AJP Candidate Files Defamation Complaint Against Himanta Sarma
Complaint Filed With National Commission for Women
Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, the mother of Kunki Chowdhury, an Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate for the Guwahati Central constituency, has lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Women (NCW) against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The complaint alleges that Sarma made false and defamatory statements about her during the election campaign.
Chowdhury explained in her complaint that as a private individual not actively engaged in electoral politics, she has been unfairly brought into public attention due to her daughter’s candidacy in the ongoing Assam Assembly elections. She stated that she has become a target of controversy solely because of her daughter’s ambition.
Allegations Made During Campaign
The complaint outlines various allegations made by the Chief Minister during a public campaign event, where he purportedly accused Chowdhury of making social media posts that hurt religious sentiments, having sympathies for Pakistan, supporting anti-national figures, and consuming beef publicly. Chowdhury refuted these claims, calling them “completely false, baseless and malicious,” and maintained that they were intended to harm her reputation and politically disadvantage her daughter.
Additionally, Chowdhury expressed concern over a particular image showcased by Sarma during his campaign, which was allegedly used to substantiate the claim that she was seen consuming beef. Chowdhury stated that this photograph was misrepresented and clarified that it was taken at the International Church of Cannabis in Denver, Colorado, where the item depicted was an artistic prop, not any food item.
Rebuttal of Claims and Impact of Allegations
Chowdhury stated, “The Hon’ble Chief Minister displayed a photograph before journalists, alleging that it showed me consuming beef. I categorically state that the image was taken at the International Church of Cannabis, located in Denver, Colorado, USA. The object in the image is an artistic prop shaped like a conical cylinder and not any form of food. The allegation that I was ‘eating beef’ is factually incorrect and deliberately misleading. Such claims are deeply offensive and damaging to my personal reputation.”
The complaint further highlighted that following these allegations, personal photographs of Chowdhury, including those with her minor child, began circulating on social media without her consent. She has faced online abuse and character assassination as a result of these claims. Chowdhury indicated that manipulated images and AI-generated content have been disseminated across social media platforms to tarnish her dignity, causing significant mental distress and reputational harm to her and her family.
Statement from Elevation Ministries
Elevation Ministries, based in Denver, USA, reportedly provided a statement confirming the nature of the object depicted in the contentious image. The statement clarified that the object was a pillow used as part of a museum installation experience and not food. The organization noted, “Please be advised that Sujuta Chowdhury visited our immersive museum experience and has asked for us to provide a letter to clarify what the item is in the picture below. The item that she is putting up to her lips is a pillow, not any type of meat.”
Kunki Chowdhury’s Campaign
Kunki Chowdhury, who is contesting from the Guwahati Central constituency as an AJP candidate, has indicated that she has received encouraging support since initiating her campaign. The voting for the 126 assembly constituencies in Assam took place on April 9, with the vote counting scheduled for May 4.
