Himanta steps up attack against Gaurav Gogoi on 'Pakistan visit' ::: Congress leader calls it "flop show"
Assam CM says Gaurav Gogoi, his British wife Elizabeth Colburn and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh shared a “deeper connection”.
“When you visit an enemy country, every movement is recorded - who you met, where you stayed, what conversations took place. Pakistan would have created digital records, including videos. The danger is not just today, but tomorrow,” Assam chief minister Himanta Sarma said.
The intent is clear -- 'polarise' the pre-poll mood in Assam. The BJP is desperate to retain power in the largest northeastern state which the saffron party had captured in 2016.
The BJP has been on defensive for quite sometime realising the significance of Ahom factor in Assam politics and also the incumbency equations. Both these factors are with the Congress which has a sizable loyal support base. Moreover, Gaurav Gogoi is himself an Ahom and his winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls had actually given Congress huge advantage for this year's election. But Himanta by his shrewd political machinations has apparently able to cover some space and the polls are almost heading for a photo finish.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Gogoi’s alleged links with Pakistan, Chief Minister Himanta Sarma claimed it was standard practice for an “enemy nation” to maintain detailed surveillance records of visitors, particularly political figures.
Sarma alleged that Pakistan may have digitally recorded every aspect of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s 2013 visit to Pakistan --- warning that such material could be used for "blackmail" if Gogoi were to assume higher constitutional or executive office in the future.
Politically it may be a difficult mechanism to convince Assam voters that Gaurav should not be elected or given any key constitutional responsibility. So; the Congress has gauged the public mood well and instead accused CM Sarma of failing to convince even the journalists present and questioned the timing and intent behind the allegations.
“Assam CM ried hard for almost 2.5 hours to take his ‘flop cinema’ among the public. After his conference, he failed to convince all the journalists present in the room. When you will hear their (journalists) questions, you will know they were not convinced," Gogoi later said.
Earlier in the day, Sarma, addressing the press, maintained that the allegations against Gogoi were based on official inputs and insisted that the Congress leader must clarify his position.
“Until and unless he clarifies about his Pakistan visit or make public the country's Interior Ministry's letter, we have every right to say that he had undergone a 10-day training course,” stated Chief Minister.
Sarma also alleged that Gogoi, his wife Elizabeth, and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh share a “deep connection”, claiming that sensitive information from Indian agencies was passed on to Pakistan.
Sarma further alleged that Gogoi undertook a “very confidential” visit to Pakistan in 2013 and is believed to have undergone “some kind of training” there.
But it is not a very convincing issue politically.
A section of BJP leaders in Assam do not endorse chief minister's move to raise the so-called Pakistani nexus of Gaurav Gogoi arguing -- the voters may not appreciate such issues from electoral perspective.
But the scalation of the political spat at this juncture when poll dates may be announced before Holi festival is curious.
In a post on X, Gogoi wrote: “Himanta Biswa Sarma has embarrassed himself on the stage in front of local and national media. After 2.5 hours press conference even the journalists in the room remain unconvinced."
In the past too the Congress leaders have been critical about Himanta's allegations.
"Himanta ji is only trying to conceal his fear. The voters of Assam are smart enough. They know the ill-intent of the chief minister. Hundreds of Indians have visited Pakistan. All big leaders visit Pakistan and different countries. That does not make them anti-India. Visiting Pakistan is a non issue. Actually it is a non-starter. Himanta Biswa Sarma will regret in 2026 for conducting himself so cheaply. He was also a Congressman and pretended to be loyal to Late Tarun Gogoi ji. But see today."
Politically Assam is often divided into three categories. The Barak valley – Bengali dominated and Lower Assam and Upper Assam.
People in Upper Assam have always felt neglected and thus remained anguished.
And there are reasons for the same. This is the Ahom belt and since 2024, due to Gaurav Gogoi factor -- the Congress has an edge here.
Assam's Margherita is a famous spot for coal. Digboi is world famous for oil and Doom Dooma is well known for tea gardens and tea business.
Top of that Dibrugarh and Tinsukia are two commercial hubs.
However the twist in the tale is that despite big talks of the BJP these three pockets in Upper Assam have issues vis-a-vis development.
The BJP also knows that the people could be angry because of the crisis of drinking water, growing joblessness and absence of new industrial units.
ends
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