New Delhi/Guwahati, April 5 -- The BJP on Sunday defended Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over allegations levelled by Congress against him and his wife even as state Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi sought to keep up the pressure on the BJP leader days ahead of the polling in the northeastern state and sought an investigation.

Sarma hit back at the Congress over the allegations levelled by the party's Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera and said the "press conference reflects the deep frustration and panic within the Congress party".

Sarma rejected the allegations as "malicious, fabricated, and politically motivated lies" and said he and his wife will file criminal and civil defamation cases within the next 48 hours...