Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday said the appointment of senior Congress leader and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi as president of the India–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group has exposed what it described as politically motivated propaganda by the ruling BJP.
Gogoi, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, was nominated to the post by Speaker Om Birla.
In a statement, the APCC said the development comes at a time when the Assam Chief Minister has levelled serious allegations against the Opposition leader, including questioning his patriotism. The party contended that the nomination by the Lok Sabha Speaker reflects institutional confidence in Gogoi and undercuts what it termed a “malicious campaign” against him.
The Congress alleged that attempts to portray Gogoi in a negative light — including branding him a “Pakistani agent”, were aimed at diverting public attention and extracting political mileage. It maintained that the trust reposed in him through the parliamentary appointment demonstrates his credibility and acceptance at both national and international levels.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia also congratulated Gogoi and criticised the ruling party’s approach. He described the Chief Minister’s remarks as a desperate attempt to tarnish the image of a senior Opposition leader.
Saikia said questioning the patriotism of an elected Member of Parliament for political gain and relying on unsubstantiated allegations weakens democratic discourse. Those in positions of authority, he added, are expected to act with responsibility and base their statements on facts rather than indulge in slander. The Speaker’s decision to appoint Gogoi, he said, sends a clear signal that he enjoys trust at the national and international levels.
The APCC maintained that the latest development strengthens its position that the allegations against Gogoi were unfounded and politically driven. It urged the BJP to refrain from what it called divisive and misleading narratives in public life.