GUWAHATI, May 17: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly objected to the Congress party’s decision to include Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi in an upcoming all-party delegation tasked with presenting India’s case on cross-border terrorism. The delegation is expected to visit multiple countries to expose Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism.
Sarma took to social media to voice his opposition, claiming that Gogoi’s alleged past links with Pakistan make him unfit for the strategic assignment. “One of the MPs named in the list (from Assam) has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan — reportedly for two weeks — and credible documents show that his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India,” the chief minister wrote on X.
“In the interest of national security and beyond partisan politics, I urge Leader of Opposition Sri Rahul Gandhi not to include this individual in such a sensitive and strategic assignment,” he added.
The objection followed an announcement by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who named Gogoi among four party MPs selected for the delegation.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma expanded on his concerns: “As you know, the delegation is supposed to visit various countries to brief them against Pakistan. But this MP from Assam has never directly accused Pakistan. Instead, he seems to side with it.”
“We have information confirming his visit to Pakistan. We also have evidence that his wife received payments for at least two years from a Pakistan-based NGO closely linked to the ISI. How can someone with such a background be expected to go abroad and expose Pakistan?” Sarma said.
The remarks have reignited political tension between the ruling BJP and the Congress, with the former framing the issue as one of national security, and the latter yet to formally respond to the allegations.
Gogoi, a prominent Congress MP from Assam and son of late Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has not publicly addressed the accusations as of this writing.