In a heated exchange rocking Assam’s political landscape, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has fired back at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s explosive allegations of a Pakistan connection. Sarma, during a marathon two-hour press conference, cited an SIT report to level serious charges against Gogoi, but the MP dismissed them as baseless distractions.
Gogoi, speaking exclusively to IANS, expressed amusement that the CM had tuned into his own press briefing. ‘I’m glad he listened, but those accusations are unfounded lies,’ he stated firmly. He clarified his visit to Taxila, an ancient seat of learning near Islamabad, as a personal trip to a historical site everyone should experience.
The MP accused Sarma of trying to divert public attention from a burgeoning scandal involving 4,000 acres of government land allegedly illegally occupied by the CM’s family. ‘Taxila is far from Islamabad, yet he’s misleading the people of Assam to cover up that land grab issue,’ Gogoi charged.
On the Pakistan trip query, Gogoi revealed it was a honeymoon shortly after his marriage, accompanying his wife who was part of an international NGO program. ‘We went with organizations from other countries to understand local living conditions—no meetings with any Pakistanis,’ he emphasized.
Gogoi also weighed in on the murder of singer Zubin Garg, criticizing local probe agencies for allegedly suppressing facts that contradict Singapore’s findings. ‘They’re burying the truth,’ he alleged, calling for transparency.
This back-and-forth has intensified Assam’s political rivalry, with both sides digging in ahead of future electoral battles. As accusations fly, voters remain the ultimate jury.