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'Is your wife paid by ... ?': Assam CM Himanta Sarma vs Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi fight turns ugly

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The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
27th April, 2025 17:58 IST
NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday posted a series of pointed questions on X, asking a Congress MP whether he had spent 15 continuous days in Pakistan and whether his wife was drawing a salary from an NGO based in the neighbouring country.

Without naming anyone, Sarma also raised doubts over the citizenship status of the MP's wife and their children.

"Questions for the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from the Congress Party : 1. Did you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, could you kindly clarify the purpose of your visit?" the Assam chief minister wrote on X.

Sarma further questioned, "If so, may we ask why a Pakistan-based organisation is paying a salary for activities conducted in India?" He alleged that the MP’s wife “continues to receive a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing and working in India.”


Responding to the Assam CM, Gogoi hit back, asking if Sarma would resign in case he fails to prove his allegations.

"Questions for the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam: 1) Will you resign if you fail to prove your allegations of me and my wife being agents of an enemy country? 2) Will you take questions on your own children and wife? 3) Will the state police arrest those linked to coal mafia who make are ravaging the hills of Assam and making crores of undeclared money? Waiting for the SIT report to be submitted," Gogoi wrote on X.


The exchange of words didn't stop at Gogoi's questions as Sarma responded to the Congress leader, saying "sufficient material will be placed in the public domain exposing the connections between the concerned Congress Member of Parliament and Pakistan".

"I would like to clarify that neither I nor my son and daughter have ever visited Pakistan. Furthermore, my wife and our entire family would never even think of accepting any salary or financial support from Pakistan. All members of my family, including my wife, son, and daughter, are Indian citizens. None of my children has ever surrendered or renounced Indian citizenship. Now, it is your turn to answer. In the coming days, sufficient material will be placed in the public domain exposing the connections between the concerned Congress Member of Parliament and Pakistan. Wait for 10th September 2025," the Assam CM wrote in a reply to Gogoi.



Gogoi again repeated his questions in response to the Assam CM's assertions.

"None of the questions answered. I will repeat. 1) Will you resign if you fail to prove your allegations of me and my wife being agents of an enemy country? 2) Will you take questions on your own children and wife? 3) Will the state police arrest those linked to coal mafia who make are ravaging the hills of Assam and making crores of undeclared money? Wait for 2026," the Congress MP wrote.


Amid the slugfest between the leaders, Congress's general secretary KC Venugopal weighed in defence of Gaurav Gogoi , accusing Himanta of "diverting attention from the scathing corruption allegations".

"The Assam CM’s pathetic, below the belt comments about Gaurav Gogoi prove that he is unfit to be in public life. He is making totally baseless attacks on Gaurav Gogoi’s family, questioning their loyalty and diverting attention from the scathing corruption allegations that he must answer," Venugopal wrote on X.

Venugopal also drew the spat to the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that in the time of unity, Himanata was "emboldening our rivals".

"Today, against Pakistan, unity is the need of the hour. By frivolously using the Pakistan bogie against an upright public figure like Gogoi, who has been at the forefront of the attack against the CM, he is only emboldening our rivals as well as confirming that he has no credible response to the mounting evidence of widespread corruption against him. Gaurav Gogoi is an honest leader who is taking on the might of a police state, we steadfastly stand by him," the Congress leader said.

Retorting to Venugopal, Himanta said his claims were "factual assertions made after due diligence and careful investigation".

"No Sir. Once again I would like to state with complete responsibility and full sense of authority that every word I have said is based entirely on verifiable facts and 100% authentic information. This is not rhetoric. It is a factual assertion made after due diligence and careful investigation," he added.


Both Gogoi and the BJP have repeatedly targeted Gaurav Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, over his wife's alleged connections with Pakistan.

In addition, Sarma sought clarification on the citizenship of the MP’s wife and two children, asking, "Are they Indian citizens, or do they hold the citizenship of any other country? Many more questions will follow," he warned.

Last month, Sarma had stated that the state government might approach international agencies such as Interpol to probe the alleged involvement of Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is said to have links with Gogoi’s British wife, Elizabeth Colburn , in India's internal matters.

Responding to the allegations earlier, Gogoi had charged the BJP with peddling "baseless allegations" as the party "has no issue to raise."

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