Did Gaurav Gogoi Downplay His Pakistan Visit?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Himanta Biswa Sarma intensifies scrutiny on Gaurav Gogoi.
- Allegations of ties with Pakistan's establishment surfaced.
- Gogoi asserts compliance with government regulations during his visit.
- September 10 is a pivotal date for potential evidence disclosure.
- National security concerns are central to the unfolding drama.
Guwahati, May 28 (NationPress) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma intensified his attack on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday, alleging serious connections between Gogoi and Pakistan's establishment, and vowing to reveal “incriminating” evidence on September 10.
During a press conference, Sarma asserted that Gogoi's acknowledgment of his 2013 visit to Pakistan represents merely “10 percent” of the entire narrative.
“What I will unveil on September 10 will make Rahul Gandhi regret his decision to appoint such a person in a leadership position,” Sarma remarked, referring to Gogoi's role as Congress president in Assam.
“There are significant national security concerns. We will pursue necessary actions on September 10,” he added.
Sarma also claimed that Gogoi's wife was involved in collecting sensitive information related to the Indian government, allegedly for international climate advocates.
“We possess documentation that indicates his wife was gathering intelligence outputs from the Government of India. This operation is directly connected,” he alleged, though he did not present the evidence.
He hinted at ties with Pakistan's Interior Ministry and its intelligence agency, the ISI.
The Chief Minister questioned the timing and context of Gogoi's journey to Pakistan, raising concerns due to the fact that it occurred before he became a Member of Parliament.
“That’s even more alarming, as he was residing at the Chief Minister’s residence at that time. How can the son of a Chief Minister travel like that?” Sarma argued.
He raised suspicions about Gogoi’s family's citizenship status, claiming to have documentary evidence showing that Gogoi sought to change his son’s citizenship in 2021, even though the child previously held Indian citizenship.
“He surrendered his son's British passport in 2021. His daughter was born in England, which I am aware of,” he added.
Accusing the Congress party of a long-standing association with Pakistan, Sarma insisted that by elevating Gogoi to a prominent leadership role, the party showcased its alleged partiality towards India’s western neighbor.
“Rahul Gandhi must respond now. The Congress has historically supported Pakistan—and in appointing Gogoi, they have done so yet again,” he stated.
Earlier, Gaurav Gogoi addressed the controversy surrounding his 2013 visit to Pakistan and his wife’s professional background.
To quell rumors and social media narratives regarding his family’s connections, Gogoi clarified that his wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, worked with an international NGO and was stationed in Pakistan for a year in 2011 as part of her official duties.
“I visited Pakistan only once, in 2013, fully complying with the Government of India’s regulations,” he stated.
“My personal and professional life has consistently been transparent and aligned with the national interest.”