‘Has Pakistan Links’: Assam CM Seeks Gaurav Gogoi’s Removal From Anti-Terror Outreach Delegation
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Without naming Gogoi, who is the Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Sarma said that the former shouldn’t be included in the “sensitive and strategic assignment”.
Assam CM Himanta Sarma and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi. (File)
In an indirect hint towards Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday urged the Congress party to drop the state’s MP from the list of four lawmakers nominated by the grand old party for the delegations to be sent abroad to present India’s stance on terrorism originating from Pakistan.
Without naming Gogoi, who is the Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Sarma said that the former shouldn’t be included in the “sensitive and strategic assignment”.
“One of the MPs named in the list ( from Assam ) has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan—reportedly for two weeks—and credible documents show that his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India,” he said in a post on X.
One of the MPs named in the list ( from Assam ) has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan—reportedly for two weeks—and credible documents show that his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India.In the interest of national security and beyond… https://t.co/Y1thJAgMy8
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 17, 2025
He further urged the senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to revoke the name of Gogoi “in the interest of national security,” citing the latter’s family’s alleged links with Pakistan.
“In the interest of national security and beyond partisan politics, I urge Leader of Opposition Sri Rahul Gandhi not to include this individual in such a sensitive and strategic assignment,” Sarma added.
Congress has nominated the names of Anand Sharma, a former Cabinet Minister; Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha; Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, a Rajya Sabha MP; and Raja Brar, a Lok Sabha MP, for inclusion in the delegations being sent abroad to present India’s stance on terrorism originating from Pakistan.
The central government has chosen seven lawmakers to lead delegations abroad as part of its effort to reshape the global narrative by presenting India’s evidence and stance on the Pahalgam attack directly to foreign governments and international bodies.
Each delegation will comprise Members of Parliament from various political parties, prominent political figures, and seasoned diplomats, with the following MPs appointed to lead the seven delegations: Shashi Tharoor (INC), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), and Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena).
Sarma Vs Gogoi
Sarma has been making allegations against Gogoi over his alleged Pakistan links through his British wife Elizabeth Colburn, and has claimed that the Jorhat MP had stayed for 15 days in the neighbouring country without informing authorities.
The BJP has also accused Gogoi’s wife of having links with Pakistan and the ISI, a charge rejected by the deputy opposition leader in the Lok Sabha as “laughable and entertaining”.
The saffron camp had further alleged that Gogoi had visited the Pakistan High Commission after he was elected to Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections without seeking permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Ministry and other related ministries. After his visit, Gogoi’s organisation ’Policy for Youth’ wrote an article in a newspaper accusing BSF personnel of misbehaving with “illegal women Bangladeshi intruders”.
Earlier in February, Sarma had raised questions about a meeting Gogoi held 10 years ago with the then Pakistan High Commissioner to India. The state government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the alleged interference of Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is claimed to have links with Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, in India’s internal affairs.
(With input from agencies)
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