In a fresh escalation of political tensions in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused Congress parliamentarian Gaurav Gogoi of traveling to Rawalpindi without the necessary visa during a 2013 trip to Pakistan. Sarma suggests this implies Gogoi was hosted as a “state guest” by the neighboring country, raising questions about the nature of the visit.
According to Sarma, Gogoi’s visa covered only Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, excluding Rawalpindi. Speaking to journalists during an event in Bongaigaon, the Chief Minister remarked that Gogoi must have relied on transportation provided by Pakistani military or police forces to reach the area. He further stated that Gogoi’s own admission of the visit serves as key evidence, potentially admissible in legal proceedings.
This allegation comes amid an ongoing verbal spat between the two leaders as Assembly elections draw near. Sarma has repeatedly demanded clarity from Gogoi regarding alleged connections to Pakistan involving him and his family, specifically pointing to a trip to the historic Takshashila site near Rawalpindi.
In response, Gogoi has clarified that his general passport, which was handed over to central authorities upon receiving a diplomatic one after his election as an MP, contains full records of the journey. During a media briefing, he explained that the 10-day Pakistan excursion with his wife, Elizabeth Colburn, occurred shortly after their wedding and was linked to her professional assignment. Colburn had previously worked in Islamabad for a year before relocating to New Delhi.
Gogoi dismissed Sarma’s accusations as fabrications, accusing the Chief Minister of entanglement in his own misleading narratives. The ancient Takshashila, renowned as a hub of learning, was the destination, and Gogoi emphasized that all permissions were duly obtained.
This controversy highlights the intensifying political rivalry in Assam, with implications for national security narratives and electoral strategies in the Northeast region.
Tags: Assam Politics, Himanta Biswa Sarma Accusations, Gaurav Gogoi Pakistan Visit, Congress MP Controversy, Rawalpindi Trip, State Guest Claims, Assam CM Statements, Political Rivalry Northeast, Takshashila Visit, Assembly Elections Assam
Hashtags: #AssamPolitics #HimantaBiswaSarma #GauravGogoi #PakistanVisit #CongressMP #Rawalpindi #StateGuest #AssamCM #NortheastIndia #PoliticalControversy #AssemblyElections #AssamNews
