Guwahati, Feb 8: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, February 8, stepped up his attack on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that the parliamentarian’s past visit to the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi raised serious political and national security concerns that merited a broader probe.
Speaking on the issue, Sarma said the controversy surfaced while he was in Singapore promoting Assam as an investment destination, when a photograph began circulating on social media showing Gogoi accompanying a group of youths to the Pakistan Embassy. He claimed that Abdul Basit, who was serving as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India at the time, was also present during the interaction. Emphasising the sensitivity of India–Pakistan relations, the Chief Minister recalled the sacrifice of Assam’s Captain Jintu Gogoi, who lost his life during the Kargil War. He said the nation has always stood united with its leadership during moments of conflict, reflecting the country’s collective sentiment on issues involving Pakistan.
Sarma alleged that such an engagement was unprecedented within the Congress, asserting that no other leader from the party had visited Pakistan or interacted with its diplomatic establishment in this manner as part of a delegation. He admitted that he initially dismissed the viral image as manipulated. However, he said his view changed after Congress leaders themselves acknowledged the photograph. “For a long time, I believed the picture was photoshopped. But when Congress leaders began endorsing it a few days later, it became clear that it was authentic,” he said.
According to the Chief Minister, the confirmation of the photograph prompted authorities to look at the matter more seriously. He said the issue could not be treated as an isolated incident and had wider implications. “Once it was established that the photograph was real, the entire investigation was expanded,” Sarma stated, indicating that the episode warranted deeper scrutiny beyond routine political exchanges.
The remarks have added to the growing political tension between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Assam, with the issue now taking on a sharper national security dimension.
