Guwahati, Feb 15: The political battleground in Assam is heating up, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi locked in an escalating war of words. The Assam BJP has gone on the offensive, accusing the Congress of running a misinformation campaign to shield Gogoi and his wife from mounting allegations.
In a sharp rebuttal, BJP spokesperson Lakhya Konwar said, “The Congress and its ecosystem are pushing a deliberate propaganda narrative. But the people of Assam won’t be fooled. Instead of deflecting, Gaurav Gogoi and his wife must come clean on the serious accusations against them.”
At the heart of the latest controversy is a July 10, 2015 article published by the Youth Forum on Foreign Policy (YFPP), an organization allegedly backed by Gogoi. The BJP claims the article painted India’s Border Security Force (BSF) as human rights violators, accusing them of indiscriminately killing nearly 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals under the pretext of border security.
BJP leaders have raised alarms, questioning whether Gogoi’s organization has been acting against India’s national interest. “This is an attempt to malign India’s security forces on an international stage,” Konwar alleged, demanding accountability from the Congress MP.
Adding fuel to the fire, fresh claims have emerged regarding Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi. The BJP has alleged that she was appointed by Pakistani national Ali Sheikh, a figure known for his anti-India rhetoric.
Sarma, seizing the moment, demanded answers. “We are not making accusations, but we need clarity. Did Gaurav Gogoi’s wife work in Pakistan? Has she taken Indian citizenship? Has Gogoi himself travelled to Pakistan, and if so, did he have the External Affairs Ministry’s permission?” the Chief Minister questioned.
In a dramatic turn, Sarma posed a striking analogy, “How can ISI and R&AW live under the same roof? ISI represents Pakistan, R&AW represents India—this is not possible.”
Gogoi, however, was quick to dismiss the allegations as absurd. Taking a jibe at Sarma, he shot back, “If my wife is an ISI agent, then I must be an R&AW agent. The Chief Minister is restless and insecure—that’s why he is resorting to such ridiculous claims.”
Assam Chief Minister said the issue will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting on February 16.
With Assam’s state elections looming next year, this high-voltage showdown is far from over. Both leaders are digging in, ensuring that this political storm will only intensify in the months ahead, shaping the discourse in one of the most crucial electoral battles in the state.
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