Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma releases SIT report as BJP stages statewide protests; Gogoi terms allegations “baseless and politically motivated”
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati, Feb. 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam on Saturday levelled serious allegations against Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of having links detrimental to national interests. The allegations followed a press conference addressed by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, during which he made public the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report.
Addressing the media, the Chief Minister alleged that the SIT report contained information raising concerns over Gaurav Gogoi’s foreign associations. The BJP claimed that the matter has wider implications for national security and warranted public scrutiny. Following the press conference, the issue sparked widespread political reactions across the state.
State BJP spokesperson Pranjal Kalita, in a press statement issued from the party’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhavan headquarters, alleged that Gogoi had links with Pakistan through his family connections and past associations. Kalita claimed that Gogoi’s wife, a British citizen, had previously worked with a Pakistan-based non-governmental organisation and received remuneration that, according to the BJP, raised questions.
The BJP further alleged that Gogoi had travelled to Pakistan in the past and questioned the circumstances surrounding his visits, including visa details and interactions during his stay. The party also raised concerns about the alleged visits of Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh to India during the tenure of the previous Congress-led central government, seeking clarification on whether these visits had any connection with Gogoi or his family.
The BJP demanded that Gogoi publicly refute the allegations and provide clarifications on issues raised by the party, including his family’s citizenship status and alleged foreign financial links. The party stated that these matters were of public interest and called for a thorough investigation at the national level.
Meanwhile, the BJP organised statewide protests across all 39 organisational districts of Assam on Saturday afternoon. In Dibrugarh, state BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia led the protest and criticised Gogoi, asserting that the allegations had brought embarrassment to the state. Saikia said the matter should be investigated by central agencies to establish the truth.
Responding to the allegations, APCC president Gaurav Gogoi strongly denied all charges. Speaking to reporters, Gogoi described the Chief Minister’s press conference as a “flop show” and accused Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma of attempting to assassinate his character for political gain.
Gogoi said the BJP and the Chief Minister had been repeating the same allegations for the past six months without producing conclusive evidence. He termed the accusations “baseless, misleading, and politically motivated,” and maintained that he had always acted in accordance with the Constitution and in the national interest.
The Congress party is expected to issue a detailed response in the coming days, even as the political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress continues to intensify in Assam.
