Himanta ups 'Pak agent' attack, Gaurav Gogoi hits back, says his kids dragged in too

The political slugfest in Assam escalated on Monday, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sharpening his attack on Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi over alleged links to Pakistan, even as Gogoi hit back, accusing the Chief Minister of suppressing an SIT report and dragging his minor children into what he called a “super flop political drama”.

On Sunday, Sarma held a press conference in which he made explosive allegations against Gogoi’s wife, claiming she had links to Pakistan. In response, Gogoi held a press conference today and lashed out at Sarma for 'dragging' his kids.

While Gogoi was holding a press conference, the Assam CM shot a fresh post, questioning Gogoi’s 2013 visit to Pakistan. He flagged what he described as discrepancies in visa permissions and travel locations. Sarma upped the ante and said Gogoi had disclosed that Takshashila (Taxila) is located not in Islamabad but in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi district, raising what he called a “serious and unavoidable question”.

“If his Pakistan visa explicitly permitted travel only to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, how did he visit Takshashila, which lies outside the Islamabad Capital Territory and within Rawalpindi District?” Sarma asked, adding that Pakistan’s immigration rules do not allow travel beyond visa-designated cities without special authorisation.

He further underlined that Rawalpindi also houses the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), calling the issue one of national security and demanding to know who facilitated Gogoi’s movement.

‘PRESS CONFERENCE DRIVEN BY FEAR’

Responding sharply, Gogoi accused the Chief Minister of manufacturing a controversy to divert attention from allegations surrounding land allegedly held by Sarma’s family.

Addressing reporters in Guwahati, the Assam Congress president said the SIT report, which Sarma had cited, had been “buried” for six months because it failed to substantiate claims linking him to Pakistan.

“If this was really about national security, why was he sitting idle for six months?” Gogoi asked. “The truth is, the SIT report has nothing to prove his allegations.”

Gogoi linked the timing of the Chief Minister’s press conference to the Congress party’s mobilisation in the state. “The Congress party’s rising popularity forced him to act. Only after we disclosed that 12,000 bighas of land are held by his family did he come out with this drama,” he said.

Calling the press meet a “super flop”, Gogoi later posted on X that even journalists present appeared unconvinced. “After two-and-a-half hours, what people saw was worse than a C-grade cinema,” he wrote.

PAKISTAN LINKS CLAIM RUBBISHED

Sarma has alleged that Gogoi, his wife Elizabeth Colburn and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh share a “deeper connection”, claiming sensitive information may have been passed to Pakistan. He has also suggested that Gogoi undertook a “confidential” visit to Pakistan in 2013 and may have received training there.

Gogoi rejected the allegations outright. “My wife visited Pakistan for work-related purposes. I accompanied her on a 10-day trip in 2013. There was nothing secret or illegal about it,” he said.

He also denied interfering with the investigation. “From day one, I have said the SIT should do its work and the report should be made public. The Chief Minister is not Chanakya,” Gogoi said, taking a swipe at Sarma’s political posturing.

‘MY CHILDREN WERE DRAGGED IN’

The Congress leader appeared visibly angry over references to his family during Sarma’s remarks. “He stooped so low that he even spoke about my minor children,” Gogoi said. “We also know about his children. Everyone knows. But we don’t drag families into politics.”

Calling the episode a shame for Assam, he alleged that false information and “vicious social media videos” were being circulated. “Police must take suo motu cognisance of the Chief Minister targeting a particular community,” he said.

Gogoi said he was exploring legal options over the remarks. “I will pursue legal action against the Chief Minister for commenting on my minor children,” he added.

GOGOI HITS BACK

Responding to allegations levelled by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the CM was “sinking in his own web of lies” and inventing multiple falsehoods to cover up one. Gogoi clarified that while he had said he visited Taxila, he never claimed to have visited Rawalpindi, adding that the CM himself had not stated otherwise. He said his passport clearly mentions visits to Lahore and Islamabad in early 2014.

Accusing the CM of sitting on the SIT report for six months, Gogoi said Sarma now lacks confidence that there is even a shred of evidence to back the allegations. He claimed the CM embarrassed himself during a 2.5-hour press conference and was unfit to hold office, alleging that Sarma had made hate speeches, circulated videos calling for genocide of Muslims, and illegally disclosed private information, including photos and passport details, of his minor children.

"My wife worked in an international program which was operating in several countries across the world, including South America, Africa and Asia. In Asia, there were both Indian and Pakistani NGOs," he said.

CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY

Reiterating his challenge, Gogoi demanded that attention return to the land allegations against Sarma’s family. “He should explain how his family acquired 12,000 bighas or 4,000 acres of prime land across Assam,” he said.

“People understand everything,” Gogoi added. “They know what is real and what is just political drama.”