‘Visiting Pakistan is a crime, yet Gaurav Gogoi’s wife went 19 times’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma targets Congress MP

MORIGAON: Assam's chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp criticism against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday, demanding clarification about his alleged visit to Pakistan.
Sarma emphasised that Gogoi holds no divine status and suggested that he could face potential consequences for his actions.
"If we can arrest 40 persons who talked in support of Pakistan, then we can take action against Gaurav Gogoi for his Pakistan visit. Gaurav Gogoi is not God. Gaurav Gogoi should have answered whether he had visited Pakistan or not. Whether he changed his children's citizenship by consulting with his children or made the decision himself. Why did his wife travel to Pakistan 19 times? If he doesn't give the answer, then Himanta Biswa Sarma knows very well how to get the answer," chief minister said.
"Gaurav Gogoi is not God for me. He is a criminal. In my view, going to Pakistan is a crime. There are no Kaziranga, Manas, or Orang (national parks) in Pakistan. Whose house in Pakistan did he go to? He will have to inform us. How do you find out the answer? The Assam government, Assam SIT, and Himanta Biswa Sarma know it well," he added.
Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi took aim at chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, expressing concern over the latter's tendency to engage in personal attacks whilst neglecting crucial children's issues plaguing the state, including escalating school dropout numbers, child labour exploitation, and declining standards in government education.
In his response to the chief minister's contentious declaration about resigning if Gogoi could demonstrate his child's Indian citizenship, the Congress MP brushed aside these remarks as a deliberate distraction. Instead, he emphasised the genuine challenges threatening Assam's upcoming generation, particularly those affecting children's welfare and development.
"The Chief Minister is concerned with my children. That is his choice, his prerogative. I am concerned with the welfare of the children of Assam. Today, dropout rates are increasing. Children are being sold into slavery. The condition of government schools is deteriorating every day. Children are so impoverished that they are being forced into labour. I take responsibility for addressing these issues as a member of the Congress party," Gogoi said.
Chief minister Sarma also said that his government is probing Gogoi's alleged visit to Pakistan.
Sarma said, "I have evidence that Gaurav Gogoi's son and daughter are not Indian citizens. We are examining what he did there (Pakistan) for 15 days. There is no tourism place in Pakistan; it is only a terrorist adda. It is 100 per cent confirmed that he went there, but what did he do there in 15 days? Robert Vadra and Gaurav Gogoi are more concerned about Pakistan than India."
Chief minister Sarma raised questions earlier this week about the employment status of Gogoi's spouse, specifically asking if she earns income from a non-governmental organisation based in Pakistan whilst residing in India. Additionally, he requested clarification regarding the nationality credentials of Gogoi's wife and their two children.
"Questions for the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from the Congress Party: 1. Did you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, could you kindly clarify the purpose of your visit? 2. Does your wife indeed receive a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing and working in India? If so, may we ask why a Pakistan-based organisation is paying a salary for activities conducted in India? 3. What is the citizenship status of your wife and your two children? Are they Indian citizens, or do they hold citizenship of another country? Many more questions will follow," he posted on X.