A fresh political row has erupted in Assam after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi of having ties with the Pakistani establishment.
The controversy stems from Gogoi’s admission that he visited Pakistan over a decade ago. However, he clarified that the trip had nothing to do with politics or intelligence agencies and was linked to his wife’s professional work.
Responding sharply to the allegations, Gogoi said his 2013 visit to Pakistan was purely personal. He explained that his wife, a reputed public policy expert, had been working on an international climate change project in South Asia.
She spent a year in Pakistan before returning to India around 2012–2013. Gogoi stated that he had accompanied her on one occasion during that period.
The Congress MP accused the ruling BJP of using his decade-old visit as a tool for defamation.
He likened the allegations to a poorly made film, saying the BJP was producing a "C-grade cinema" with plans to release it on September 10. Gogoi asserted that such tactics would fail as the people of Assam are aware of the truth.
Gogoi raised questions about the timing of the accusations. He asked why, if there was any wrongdoing in his travel, the central government and its agencies did not take action 11–12 years ago when the trip happened.
He reminded everyone that traveling to another country involves following standard protocols, and nothing illegal was done during that time.
He also expressed concern about the direction of political discourse, saying that his track record is in the public domain and that the ruling party was targeting him simply because elections are around the corner.
He stressed that such efforts are aimed at creating confusion and distrust among opposition leaders.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarma intensified his allegations, claiming that Gogoi's visit to Pakistan was done under the invitation of Pakistan’s Home Department, not through cultural or diplomatic channels.
Sarma suggested that the visit was connected to more serious matters and hinted that the situation could worsen for Gogoi in the coming days.
Sarma also announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter, and its findings will be made public on September 10.
He said the state government is committed to transparency and that the people deserve to know the truth. The chief minister accused the Congress party of promoting a "dangerous and compromised" person into public life.
The remarks have caused an uproar, especially since they come just a day after Gaurav Gogoi was appointed president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. His appointment also included the selection of three working presidents—Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Roselina Tirkey, and Pradip Sarkar.
Taking to social media, Gogoi dismissed Sarma’s claims as absurd and politically motivated. He questioned the mental state of the chief minister and said that personal frustrations were being projected onto public platforms.
He accused Sarma of spreading lies and trying to shift attention from real issues in the state.
The Congress party has firmly stood by Gogoi and rejected the allegations made by the Assam chief minister. The party believes the accusations are an attempt to damage its image ahead of the upcoming elections.
This incident adds to the growing tensions between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Assam, where political rivalries have often turned bitter.
With only a year left for the elections, both parties appear to be preparing for a heated battle, and the controversy surrounding Gogoi’s Pakistan visit has added a new dimension to the political landscape in the state.
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