CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Stands Ground, Cites ‘Factual Basis’ for Allegations Against Gaurav Gogoi

 Guwahati: In a fresh escalation of political tensions, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended his contentious remarks targeting Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, insisting that his allegations were grounded in "verifiable facts" rather than political rhetoric.Responding to criticism from Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal — who accused Sarma of resorting to "personal attacks" to sidestep corruption charges — the Chief Minister reaffirmed his stance through multiple posts on social media platform X."Every statement I have made is based entirely on verifiable facts and 100% authentic information," Sarma asserted, claiming that his comments followed "due diligence and careful investigation."Sarma emphasized that the questions he raised regarding Gogoi and his family were not politically motivated but stemmed from issues of public interest. "These are legitimate inquiries that arise from factual details already in the public domain," he said, further warning that "many more questions" would emerge as the probe deepens.Earlier, Venugopal launched a fierce attack on Sarma, describing his remarks as "pathetic" and "below-the-belt." He asserted that Sarma's allegations were a desperate attempt to deflect attention from corruption controversies linked to his government. "Gaurav Gogoi is an honest leader confronting the might of a police-driven state, and the Congress party firmly stands with him," Venugopal declared.The political row intensified after Sarma questioned whether Gogoi had visited Pakistan for 15 days and sought an explanation regarding the nature of the trip. He also alleged potential links between Gogoi’s wife and a Pakistan-based NGO, demanding transparency about her employment and citizenship status, along with that of their children.Gogoi, in response, challenged Sarma to either substantiate his claims or resign from office. He also turned the tables by questioning whether Sarma would be willing to place his own family under similar scrutiny. Additionally, Gogoi raised concerns about alleged coal mafia operations in Assam’s hill regions, demanding accountability from the Chief Minister.The political confrontation shows no signs of easing, with both sides gearing up for a prolonged battle of words and evidence.