The war of words between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has intensified. Chief Minister Sarma has made serious allegations about Gogoi’s visit to Pakistan and his family’s ties. The controversy started on Sunday when the Chief Minister said that he would meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and question why the Congress gave Gogoi a ticket despite the allegation of visiting Pakistan.
Chief Minister Sarma’s allegation
Chief Minister Sarma, while talking to the media during the campaign for the panchayat elections, said that Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn has visited Pakistan 19 times. He said, “Congress and Pakistan are the same, both are sympathetic to Pakistan.” Sarma also said that he would meet Kharge with all the information and question him why the Congress gave Gogoi a ticket if his behavior is like this. The Chief Minister also made it clear that he would continue to raise questions on the issue.
Gogoi’s counterattack
Reacting to the Chief Minister’s allegations, Congress Deputy Leader and Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi said that Sarma was dragging his and his family’s name into politics. Gogoi said that the Chief Minister should work for the welfare of the people and not interfere in their personal lives. He also questioned what happened to the report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government? Gogoi challenged the Chief Minister to make public the results of the investigation conducted by the SIT.
Question on Pakistan visit
Regarding the Pakistan visit, the Chief Minister said, “There is nothing worth seeing in Pakistan. In such a situation, how can a person stay there for 15 days? There is no justification for going to Pakistan unless one takes training.” He also questioned Gogoi’s religious behavior and said that no Muslim can offer Namaz the way Gogoi does. This comment has also caused controversy.
Questions raised on SIT probe
Gogoi has challenged the Chief Minister to make public the report of the SIT, which was set up to probe his and his wife’s alleged links with Pakistan. Gogoi also raised the question as to why the probe has not been completed and its findings not made public.
