Gaurav Gogoi dismisses Himanta’s Pakistan Link Claims

New Delhi: Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday refuted allegations of his links with the Pakistani establishment, calling the BJP’s claims a “C-grade Bollywood movie” destined to “flop miserably.” Gogoi clarified that he had visited Pakistan only once, about 12 years ago, and accused the BJP, particularly Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, of attempting to sow distrust within the Congress leadership through baseless accusations.Speaking at a press conference at Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Gogoi said the allegations were politically motivated and lacked evidence. “If there was any wrongdoing, why did the BJP-led central government not act in the last 11 years?” he questioned. Gogoi also highlighted that his wife, a noted public policy expert, had worked on an international climate change project in Pakistan around 2012-13, which he insisted was unrelated to any suspicious activity.In response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Gogoi of maintaining “proximity with the Pakistani establishment,” citing credible inputs and documented information to support his claims. Sarma extended his criticism to the Congress party, alleging that leaders like Rahul Gandhi have promoted individuals with questionable backgrounds.The Assam government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these allegations, with plans to release its findings in September. Sarma’s office stated that the SIT’s report will shed light on the depth of Gogoi’s purported connections with Pakistan.Meanwhile, Gogoi maintained that the accusations were a political ploy designed to undermine his credibility and the Congress party’s standing in Assam. “The people of Assam will not be misled by such tactics,” he asserted.This political controversy comes ahead of crucial elections in Assam, with both parties intensifying their rhetoric as they vie for public support. The SIT’s upcoming report is expected to further fuel debate around Gogoi’s alleged links and the broader narrative of cross-border influence in the region.