Assam CM Sarma Accuses Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi of Being 'Pakistani Agent'
In a dramatic escalation of political hostilities, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directly labeled Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi as "an agent" of Pakistan, declaring that "Pakistan should not have any assets in India." This explosive allegation comes as both leaders position themselves for the crucial 2026 Assam assembly elections, reviving a bitter rivalry that dates back more than a decade.
The Pakistan Visit Allegations
At a press conference on February 8, Sarma presented detailed allegations about Gogoi's December 2013 visit to Pakistan. According to the chief minister, Gogoi arrived in Lahore on December 15, 2013, and within a day, his visa was expanded to include Islamabad and Karachi.
"Why was he taken from Lahore to Islamabad and Karachi? What did he do for 10 days?" Sarma questioned publicly. He further claimed that Gogoi underwent "some kind of training" during his stay and suggested this explained why, after becoming an MP, Gogoi raised questions in Parliament about military preparedness, defense hardware, nuclear plants, espionage, and the Kashmir conflict.
"A first-time MP asking such confidential questions, how can it not be linked to his Pakistan visit?" Sarma argued, adding that if Gogoi cannot clarify his Pakistan stay, charges of treason might be appropriate.
Gogoi's Forceful Rebuttal
Gaurav Gogoi, son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, dismissed all allegations as "mindless and bogus" and accused Sarma of embarrassing himself. In a social media post, Gogoi wrote: "Himanta Biswa Sarma has embarrassed himself on the stage in front of local and national media. After a 2.5 hour press conference even the journalists in the room remain unconvinced. Nobody in Assam is taking his words seriously. #SuperFlop."
Gogoi countered by demanding that Sarma explain how his family acquired approximately 12,000 bighas (4,000 acres) of prime property across Assam. "When we will come to power, we will take those lands and distribute them amongst the poor and landless," Gogoi declared.
Deep-Rooted Political Rivalry
The current confrontation represents the latest chapter in a political feud that began within the Congress party over a decade ago. Sarma was once a senior minister in the Congress government led by Tarun Gogoi but reportedly felt sidelined as Gaurav Gogoi began taking an active role in party affairs.
The breaking point came ahead of the 2016 assembly elections when the Congress high command projected Gaurav Gogoi as the face of Assam Congress leadership, despite Sarma's central role in managing the party's successful 2011 campaign. Sarma eventually defected to the BJP in 2015, bringing several Congress MLAs with him—a move that significantly weakened the Congress and laid the foundation for BJP's rise in Assam.
Investigative Developments and Counter-Allegations
The Assam cabinet has cleared the transfer of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report to the Union Home Ministry. Sarma explained that the investigation had reached beyond the state's scope and required scrutiny by central agencies such as the Home Ministry, NIA, IB, or CBI.
"If I arrest Gogoi now, I will be accused of doing politics before elections. Arresting is a harsh step. I feel Gogoi is the most vulnerable politician in India now, as all his movements in the 10-day stay must have been photographed and recorded in Pakistan," Sarma stated, adding that unless Gogoi answers questions about his visit, suspicion will remain.
In a new development, Sarma has targeted Gogoi's wife, Elizabeth Colburn, alleging she had professional links with Pakistan-based NGO LEAD Pakistan and continued receiving payments even after moving to India. "Pakistani agencies cannot donate to an Indian entity as it's an enemy nation. Probably special permission was obtained in UPA time to pay Colburn," the chief minister claimed.
The Personal Dimension Intensifies
The feud has taken increasingly personal turns. Gogoi has previously accused Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, of receiving undue benefits through government schemes—allegations that Sarma denied and that resulted in a defamation suit.
Sarma has also questioned why Gogoi's wife hasn't surrendered her British citizenship, drawing comparisons to Sonia Gandhi giving up Italian citizenship. He even alleged that Gogoi's children had surrendered their Indian citizenship, calling this "morally and legally wrong."
Gogoi responded to the ISI agent allegations with sarcasm: "If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, I am a R&AW agent of India. I don't mind if a family against whom there are various cases and several allegations, makes allegations against me."
Historical Context: The 'Biscuit' Episode
The bitterness between the leaders resurfaced in October 2017 when Rahul Gandhi posted a photo of his dog Pidi on social media. Sarma, then a former Congress leader, responded: "Sir who knows him better than me. Still remember you busy feeding biscuits to him while we wanted to discuss urgent Assam's issues."
This gained fresh traction in 2024 after a video circulated showing Rahul Gandhi attempting to feed a biscuit to a puppy and later offering the same biscuit to a Congress worker. BJP leader Pallavi CT referenced Sarma's earlier criticism, prompting Sarma to write: "Pallavi ji, not only Rahul Gandhi but the entire family could not make me eat that biscuit. I am a proud Assamese and Indian. I refused to eat and resigned from the Congress."
Election Implications and Future Outlook
With the Assam assembly elections approaching, the Sarma-Gogoi feud has taken on strategic significance. What began as a leadership tussle within the Congress has evolved into one of Assam's most personal and high-stakes political confrontations.
"This confrontation is no longer confined to policy disagreements," political observers note. "It is a deeply personal rivalry shaped by ambition, betrayal, ideological realignment and unfinished political business."
As the campaign intensifies, both leaders are betting that public perception will tilt in their favor. Whether voters view the controversy as a matter of national concern or political mudslinging could determine the outcome of Assam's next electoral chapter. One certainty remains: the Sarma-Gogoi battle is far from over, and its roots run much deeper than today's headlines suggest.
