Was Gaurav Gogoi's Visit to Pakistan Personal?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Guwahati, Feb 9 (NationPress) - Congress MP and President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Gaurav Gogoi, addressed the controversies surrounding his previous visit to Pakistan on Monday, launching a strong critique of the Assam government. He accused officials and Special Investigation Teams (SITs) of being exploited for the political objectives of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
In an interview with IANS, Gogoi clarified that his trip to Pakistan was entirely personal, related to his wife's professional engagements shortly after their marriage.
“During my visit, I was with my wife, who had tied the knot with me just two-and-a-half months prior. She was involved in an international program with NGOs from various countries, including those from India and Pakistan,” he elaborated.
He mentioned that he accompanied her to better understand her working environment and conditions, firmly rejecting any insinuations of suspicious meetings during this time and claiming not to recall any interactions with the individual referenced in recent allegations.
“I was there solely for the purpose of supporting her work. Efforts are being made to fabricate false narratives,” he asserted.
Shifting focus to the state government, Gogoi accused the Assam administration of “using and misusing” officials to conceal truths.
He highlighted that the same officers were part of several SITs, including one investigating issues related to himself and another looking into the death of the renowned singer Zubeen Garg.
“In the Zubeen Garg case, the statements from officials in Singapore contradict the reports issued by the SIT here,” Gogoi pointed out, raising concerns about the reliability and impartiality of such investigations.
He expressed serious doubts regarding the effectiveness of the SITs established by the Assam government.
According to Gogoi, these investigative teams have morphed into “personal tools” for Chief Minister Sarma, aimed more at exerting political influence than revealing the truth.
“These SITs are designed not to provide justice but to resolve political disputes,” he alleged.
The Congress leader voiced confidence in constitutional institutions but cautioned against the ongoing politicization of the administrative framework.
He stressed that the citizens of Assam are closely observing the situation and will evaluate attempts to distract from governance shortcomings through what he termed as orchestrated controversies.