Proximity to Pakistan or political cinema? Himanta Sarma, Gaurav Gogoi commerce barbs over 2013 go to declare

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday escalated his assault on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that the newly appointed Assam Congress president has maintained “proximity with the Pakistani establishment.” The allegations, Sarma claimed, are backed by “credible inputs” and can be made public following a probe.

Sarma mentioned that Gogoi’s latest admission that he had visited Pakistan was not the top of the matter however “the beginning of a serious issue.” “Finally, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has admitted that he visited Pakistan. But let us be very clear—this is just the beginning, not the end,” Sarma posted on X.

The Assam authorities has fashioned a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look at the matter. The SIT’s findings can be made public on September 10, in line with the chief minister, who framed the difficulty as one in every of nationwide concern.

‘Visited Pakistan on ISI invite’: Sarma doubles down

In an earlier comment, Sarma alleged that Gogoi had travelled to Pakistan on the invitation of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and obtained coaching there. “For the first time, I want to say that he went to Pakistan at the invitation of ISI. We have that document,” Sarma mentioned, including that the invitation got here from Pakistan’s Home Department, not its Ministry of External or Cultural Affairs. “It is a serious matter… More considerable action will be taken,” he warned.

Gogoi: Visit was private, linked to spouse’s work in Pakistan

Gaurav Gogoi has denied any wrongdoing, explaining that his 2013 go to to Pakistan was tied to his spouse’s skilled task. “About 14-15 years ago, my wife, who is a well-known expert in public policy, worked on a South Asia climate change project. She spent a year in Pakistan before returning to India around 2012-13. I remember going with her once,” Gogoi mentioned throughout a press convention.

He accused the ruling social gathering of politicising a private matter, calling their actions “a C-grade cinema.” “If we had done anything illegal, then who was at the Centre 11–12 years ago? What were the agencies doing then?” he requested.

‘Absurd claims from a troll’: Gogoi hits again on X

Reacting sharply to Sarma’s claims, Gogoi posted a sequence of statements on X, calling the chief minister a “troll.” “I am worried about the health of the Chief Minister of Assam. For some reason best known to him, I have been on his radar since my entry into Assam. The most recent remark borders on insanity and the absurd,” he wrote.

He added, “The script the Chief Minister follows is worse than a B-grade film. To cover up one lie, a person has to say countless lies. That is exactly what the Chief Minister is doing.”

Political backdrop: Gogoi appointed Assam Congress chief

The row comes simply days after the Congress appointed Gaurav Gogoi as president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, alongside three working presidents — Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Roselina Tirkey, and Pradip Sarkar. The BJP has seized on Gogoi’s previous journey to Pakistan as a degree of assault. Congress, in the meantime, has dismissed the allegations as a smear marketing campaign designed to undermine its management in Assam forward of the 2026 meeting polls.

(With inputs from ANI)