Karbi Anglong, April 18 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised Congress for "always trying to defame Assam," after the opposition party's leaders alleged that their party's panchayat polls candidates are being threatened to withdraw their names from the ballot.

Reacting to the allegation that the state's police is being used to threaten candidates, the Assam Chief Minister said that if such incidents had happened, then the news would be covered everywhere.

"Congress is saying this, but I have not seen the news in local newspapers or on TV channels. The Rabha Hasong election was held, but there was no untoward incident. There are 22000 villages in Assam, but they have given only one or two examples. If they inform the adm...