Guwahati: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi on Monday responded to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s allegations of his ‘Pakistan links’ during a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, attended by senior Congress leaders.
Congress MP Rakibul Hussain described the accusations as “absurd” and said they appeared when Gogoi’s prominence as the state Congress president began to rise. He suggested that the Chief Minister’s claims were driven by political insecurity.
Hussain also accused Sarma of targeting Gogoi’s family, including his minor children, and added that while the party had previously exercised restraint, it was now considering legal options for protection.
At the start of the press meet, Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi said the allegations were politically motivated and intended to influence voters ahead of upcoming elections. He claimed that false narratives were being spread to mislead the public.
Party leaders also indicated that they may take legal action against the Chief Minister under child protection laws, emphasizing that Gogoi’s children had no involvement in any wrongdoing. Legal advice would be sought before initiating proceedings.
Speaking directly to the media, Gogoi questioned the Chief Minister over his handling of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report.
He asked why Sarma had delayed addressing the report for six months and claimed that the Chief Minister’s actions were a reaction to the growing popularity of the Congress party in Assam. Gogoi said that once Sarma reviewed the SIT findings, he realized that the allegations were unfounded.
“If the report posed any threat to national security, why was it ignored for six months?” Gogoi asked, pointing out what he described as a deliberate delay.
Gogoi questioned the management of land holdings in the state, saying the Chief Minister and his family currently control about 12,000 bighas. He also pointed out that nearly 40,000 bighas of state land had been handed over to large corporations such as Adani, Ambani, and Patanjali, suggesting that the allegations against him were meant to divert attention from these transfers.