Has Assam CM Renewed Attacks on Gaurav Gogoi Over Pakistani Links?

Guwahati, April 27 (NationPress) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again launched an assault on Gaurav Gogoi, the Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, regarding allegations of his supposed connections to Pakistan, triggering a fierce backlash from the opposition party.

“In Assam, we only have one individual linked to Pakistan. She is married to a local family in Sukhi district and has applied for a long-term visa, although she originally hails from Pakistan,” the Chief Minister remarked to reporters.

The Chief Minister further stated that the state government has requested the Union government to determine whether she should be repatriated.

“Aside from her, there are no Pakistani nationals in Assam,” he emphasized.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the Assam Police is currently probing the connections between Gaurav Gogoi's wife and the Pakistani national and climate policy expert Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. This investigation comes amidst ongoing attacks from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa and the BJP against Gogoi over his wife's alleged ties to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI.

In response, Gogoi has dismissed these allegations as a tactic by the BJP to distract from various land scandals involving his family.

Meanwhile, Congress has retaliated against the Chief Minister, accusing him of crossing all bounds of decency in light of the Pahalgam attack.

“Politics has seen many unscrupulous individuals, particularly within the BJP. The Chief Minister of Assam has surpassed all standards of decency by leveraging a sensitive border situation to settle personal political scores. Gaurav Gogoi does not need validation of his patriotism from a corrupt individual. Himanta Biswa has much to conceal, while Gaurav has much to reveal,” stated Pawan Khera, Congress Chairman of the Media & Publicity Department, on X.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal declared that the Chief Minister’s 'pathetic' and 'below-the-belt' remarks regarding Gaurav Gogoi demonstrate that he is unfit for public office.

“His unfounded attacks on Gaurav Gogoi's family, questioning their loyalty, are attempts to divert attention from the serious corruption allegations he must address. Unity against Pakistan is crucial at this time,” he wrote on X.

Venugopal continued, asserting that by frivolously invoking the Pakistan narrative against a principled leader like Gogoi, who has been vocally opposing the Chief Minister, Biswa only strengthens their adversaries and confirms his inability to respond credibly to the overwhelming evidence of corruption against him.

“Gaurav Gogoi is a principled leader confronting the might of a police state, and we firmly support him,” he affirmed.

However, Biswa remained steadfast, countering Venugopal’s post on X by stating that his claims are rooted in factual evidence.

“No, sir. I want to reiterate with complete responsibility and authority that everything I've said is backed by verifiable facts and 100% authentic information. This is not mere rhetoric; it is a factual assertion made following thorough investigation,” he wrote on X.

Biswa requested the concerned Member of Parliament to clarify the following inquiries: “Did you or did you not spend 15 consecutive days in Pakistan? Please confirm or deny unequivocally. 2. What is the citizenship status of your minor children? Are they exclusively Indian citizens, or do they hold any foreign nationality? 3. Is it true that your wife received a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO, allegedly linked to Pakistani agencies, while simultaneously employed by a separate NGO registered in India?”

The Chief Minister asserted that these are legitimate questions arising from facts in the public interest, adding that more inquiries will emerge in due time.

“Our investigation continues, conducted responsibly and based solely on facts and documents. It has nothing to do with any personal attacks or below-the-belt political statements,” the Chief Minister concluded.