Political drama escalates in Assam as Congress chief Gogoi slams CM Sarma over ISI allegations

Newly appointed Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has dismissed allegations made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma linking him to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), calling them absurd and politically motivated.

“Now they are making a C-grade Bollywood cinema, the release of which has been announced for September 10, and it is going to flop badly,” said Gogoi.

He added that such accusations are part of a smear campaign intended to deflect attention from corruption charges involving the CM and his family.

Sarma had earlier alleged that Gogoi visited Pakistan on the ISI’s invitation.

“Gaurav Gogoi had gone to Pakistan on the invitation of ISI. For the first time, I want to say that he went to Pakistan at the invitation of ISI. We have that document. He went there to receive training,” Sarma claimed.

In response, Gogoi explained the reason behind his visit. “About 14-15 years back, my wife, a public policy expert, was in Pakistan for a year as part of a South Asian project on climate change. When she was there, I went with her once.”

Asked if he would file a defamation suit, Gogoi said, “How many defamation cases will you file against a party whose politics depends on defamation? Defamation is their motto: how to malign someone's image."

He added that the BJP’s attempts to create distrust within Congress leadership regarding him had failed.

CMSarma later doubled down on his claims through a post on social media platform X.

“Finally, Congress MP Shri Gaurav Gogoi has admitted that he visited Pakistan. But let us be very clear – this is just the beginning, not the end,” he wrote.

Sarma said there were “credible inputs and documented information” suggesting Gogoi had “maintained proximity with the Pakistani establishment.”

He added that a Special Investigation Team is conducting a probe and that the full findings would be released on Sept 10.

“The people of Assam and the nation deserve the truth – and they shall have it, in full. But the people will also not forget – nor forgive – the Congress party and Shri Rahul Gandhi for deliberately promoting such a dangerous and compromised individual into the public life of our country,” Sarma said.

The accusations mark a new flashpoint in Assam’s already heated political landscape, with both leaders trading sharp barbs in the run-up to the next electoral cycle.