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In a series of reports, The Wire and The Cross Current have revealed controversial COVID-19-related procurement orders when Himanta Biswa Sarma was Assam's health minister.
During the pandemic, the NHM sent acknowledgement letters to firms for CSR donations and to individuals, for contributions. There is reason why the official format used in those letters was not used for Riniki Bhuyan Sarma's firm.
The Congress – which staged a protest on Thursday wearing PPE kits – demanded the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the business dealings of Himanta Biswa Sarma's family.
The Assam government paid Rs 25 (Rs 37 with GST) to a firm for each 200-ml bottle of sanitiser it ordered. To another, with links to Himanta Biswa Sarma, it paid Rs 231 for every 500-ml bottle and Rs 100.30 for every 100-ml bottle – Rs 137 and Rs 81 more per bottle respectively if the former firm's rates were to be applied.
Responding to an investigation by The Wire and Cross-Current, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma said, 'I did not take a single penny out of this supply. I have been transparent about my belief in giving back to the society."