India, May 1 -- The Congress on Friday urged Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reconsider his stand in the case against party spokesperson Pawan Khera after the Supreme Court granted Khera protection from arrest, and observed that the allegations appeared politically motivated and influenced by political rivalry.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi along with party general secretary Jairam Ramesh, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented Khera in the Supreme Court, said Sarma could "genuinely elevate himself" by expressing regret over the arrest proceedings.

"I would, with folded hands, request the hon'ble chief minister, perhaps the caretaker chief minister after two more days...