Assam Congress Chief Dismisses CM's Pakistan Links Allegations as 'Super Flop' Political Drama
In a fiery rebuttal, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, labeling his attempts to establish alleged Pakistan connections as a "super flop" cinematic failure. The deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha made these remarks while addressing the media in Sipajhar, located in lower Assam's Darrang district, where he categorically stated that Sarma had completely failed to substantiate any claims regarding Pakistani links.
Questioning the Timing and Validity of Allegations
Gogoi emphasized that the Chief Minister presented no logical evidence or credible information to support his serious accusations. "During the press conference, for two-and-a-half hours Sarma tried to present his flop movie to the people," Gogoi stated, adding that he had initially predicted the allegations would fail but had underestimated their complete lack of substance. "I predicted earlier that it would flop. But I was wrong. It was super flop," the Congress leader declared emphatically.
The controversy dates back to September 10 last year when Assam Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its report concerning Pakistan national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh before Chief Minister Sarma. The investigation had also examined alleged Pakistani connections of Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth, as previously mentioned by Sarma. Gogoi pointedly questioned why no action had been taken in the intervening six months if the report contained such crucial information.
Political Timing and Election Motivations
"The chief minister previously wanted to invite journalists on September 10, but he had been sleeping on the file for the last six months," Gogoi asserted. "If the report was so important, it should have been released six months earlier and forwarded to the central government much sooner." The Congress leader suggested that Sarma's press conference was entirely election-oriented, deliberately delayed and arranged months later as state elections approach.
Gogoi connected this timing to the broader political landscape, stating, "It is time for change. People of Assam have come out seeking change and envisioning a new Bor Asom (greater Assam). So, just about two months before the state elections, he arranged the press conference. That indicates he himself lacks conviction in these allegations." Interestingly, Gogoi thanked Sarma for inadvertently projecting him as a significant political figure through these accusations.
Broader Political Reactions and Context
The political drama unfolded against a backdrop of significant developments. On September 10, when the SIT report was originally scheduled for release, former Sipajhar MLA and once-close Sarma aide Binanda Saikia joined the Congress party in New Delhi. Coincidentally, on Sunday when Sarma finally revealed the SIT findings, Gogoi was in Saikia's home constituency of Sipajhar, participating in a program organized by the Darrang district Congress committee.
Other political parties have also weighed in on the controversy. The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) stated that the Chief Minister failed to substantiate his claim of Gogoi being linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the press conference. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan issued a statement alleging that Sarma had dragged the Assam Police's SIT into political battles for personal and party interests, thereby reducing the police force to a subject of public ridicule.
Questions About Legal Consistency
Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi raised pointed questions about the legal implications of such serious allegations. He argued that if Gaurav Gogoi was genuinely a Pakistani agent, he should be immediately imprisoned rather than being allowed to participate in parliamentary proceedings. "If he is a Pakistani agent, why does Gaurav Gogoi remain free? He could potentially transmit vital information to Pakistan," Akhil Gogoi questioned, adding that the entire episode would prove to be mere political theater if Gogoi continues to function freely as a Member of Parliament despite such allegations from a sitting Chief Minister.
Gogoi concluded by contrasting the political trajectories, stating that Congress's Parivartan Yatra has gained significant momentum while what he termed "their cinema"—referring to BJP's political narrative—has completely flopped. The Congress leader is currently spearheading the party's Parivartan Yatra across Assam, mobilizing public support against the ruling BJP government in the crucial pre-election period.
