Guwahati: A round of allegations and counter-allegations is going on between Assam Congress unit president Gaurav Gogoi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma has accused Gogoi's British wife Elizabeth Colburn of having links with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. Congress leader Gogoi on Wednesday denied Himanta Biswa Sarma's allegations. Gogoi called it a story of a C-grade Bollywood film. He said that his wife had gone to Pakistan in 2013 in connection with an international project. Sarma has said that he will give more information on this matter on September 10. He has also accused Gogoi of having links with Pakistan.
Gogoi's first public statement
Gogoi gave a public statement for the first time on this matter. He told that his wife had spent only one year in Pakistan in 2013. She was working on climate change in South Asia. He said that he went to Pakistan with his wife in 2013, but if he did something wrong then what have the agencies under the BJP government been doing for the last 11 years? He also said in a conversation with reporters that Sarma was making allegations about alleged Pakistani links with the aim of tarnishing his image in the eyes of the Congress high command, but the Chief Minister's plans failed when he was given the responsibility of the President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee.
Sarma was taken a dig at
The Congress has handed over the responsibility of the state president to Gogoi at a time when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP are constantly attacking him over his wife's alleged links with Pakistani intelligence agency 'ISI' and the Congress MP's visit to Pakistan. Rejecting the allegations, Gogoi had recently questioned the mental state of the Chief Minister. On Wednesday, Gogoi took a dig at Sarma and said that he sincerely thanks the Chief Minister that the BJP leader helped him increase his political stature.
Sarma failed in his plan once again - Gogoi
He said that in the first delimitation, only my Lok Sabha constituency (Kaliabor) was divided into two parts. Then the kind of absurd things the Chief Minister has been saying for the last few months. It has raised my stature a lot. Earlier there was a misconception that my role is limited to national politics. The Chief Minister himself has broken this misconception. Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gogoi said that the Chief Minister of Assam was trying to say such things that would make the Congress leadership doubt me, but I thank my leadership for showing faith in me. Himanta Biswa Sarma failed in his intention once again.
Chief Minister is making C grade Bollywood cinema - Gogoi
Gogoi has admitted that he went to Pakistan with his wife for a few days 12 years ago, but he has not done anything wrong and his biodata is with everyone. He said that about 14-15 years ago, my wife was in Pakistan for a year under an international project. I went with her in 2013. Regarding this, the Chief Minister is making C grade Bollywood cinema, whose release date he is telling as 10 September. By the way, this film is going to be a big flop.
Attack on BJP
When asked if he will file a defamation case against the Chief Minister, Gogoi said that how many defamation cases should be filed against a party whose entire work depends on defamation. Defamation is in the blood of BJP. They try to tarnish someone's image...Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has not been spared. He said that our question is that if we have done something wrong then whose government is in the center for 11 years, what are the central investigation agencies doing?
When are the assembly elections in Assam?
He said that if someone goes across the border or comes to this side, then how much investigation is done. I am a leader of the opposition and speak openly in the House. My biodata is with everyone. When asked if he will be the face of the Chief Minister's post from the Congress, Gogoi said that first of all we have to get the majority and after that the high command has to decide further. Assembly elections are likely to be held in Assam in April-May next year.
