New Delhi:
Hot exchange between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogo on the raid of the Enforcement Directorate against illegal coal mining in the northeast state has taken a turn for the individual.
While Mr. Sarma has alleged that Mr. Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth Kalbourne Gogoi receives salary from a Pakistan -based NGO and he and his children are not Indian citizens, Congress MPs have hit back, asking whether the Chief Minister is ready for questions about his wife and children.
Earlier, Mr. Gogoi said that the Enforcement Directorate had “highlighted the illegal coal empire of Assam”. “Rs 1.58 crore cash was seized. Fake challan. 1200 tonnes of illegal coal is extracted daily in Margerita, Jogighopa, Guwahati. All CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s nose, which continued to refuse illegal mining,” He said in a post on X.
“Is this loot possible without the security of the government? Who is the real syndicate king of Assam? When Ed raids and HC Saman expose the truth, how long will the CM hide behind the refusal?” He said.
Mr. Sarma said that the Congress MP’s remarks had exposed the opposition party’s stand on the Enforcement Directorate. He said, “On the one hand, @Ruhlgandhi and their camps are constantly malnourishing the ED, calling it a political equipment. On the other hand, his own deputy leaders are busy glorifying the agency very much. It reflects completely confusion and hypocrisy within the Doublespeck Congress,” he said.
,
Question for Honorable Member of Parliament from Congress Party:
1. Do you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If yes, can you clarify the purpose of your journey?https://t.co/a83u47ZQ6L It is true that your wife continues to receive salary from one …– Biswa Sarma (@Himantabiswa) 27 April, 2025
The Chief Minister’s attack became personal then. Without the name of Mr. Gogoi, he posted questions for him. “Do you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, can you clarify the purpose of your journey? Is it true that your wife continues to receive salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while living and working in India? If we can ask what is a Pakistan-based citizen? For another country?
Question for Honorable Chief Minister of Assam
1) Will you resign if you fail to prove the allegations of me and my wife being an enemy country agent?
2) Will you question your children and wife?
3) Will the state police arrest people associated with the coal mafia … https://t.co/kehs4h9m1r
– Gaurav Gogoi (@gauravgoiaasm) 27 April, 2025
The Congress MP from Jorhat responded with a list of questions. “Will you resign if you fail to prove your allegations of being an enemy country agent of me and my wife? Will you question your children and wife? Will the state police arrest people associated with coal mafia who are destroying the hills of Assam and making crores of unannounced money?
Earlier, Mr. Sarma, once Mr. Gogoi’s father and former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s close aide said that the state Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi would witness a political storm due to the alleged Pakistan relationship. He said, “The SIT has found many inputs about the links of many Indian persons with Pakistani National Ali Tauqir Sheikh. SIT has also found many links of Ali Sheikh in India, and more revelations will come in the next few days,” he said that the SIT has been asked to complete the investigation by September.
I would like to clarify that neither I nor my son and daughter have visited Pakistan. In addition, my wife and our entire family will never think of accepting any salary or financial assistance from Pakistan.
All my family members, including my wife, son and daughter,… https://t.co/7seolw2Waz– Biswa Sarma (@Himantabiswa) 27 April, 2025
In response to the Congress MP, Mr. Sarma said, “I would like to clarify that neither I nor my son and daughter have visited Pakistan. Also, my wife and our whole family will never think of accepting any salary or financial support from Pakistan.”
“All members of my family are Indian citizens, including my wife, son and daughter. None of my children have ever surrendered or sacrificed to Indian citizenship. Now, it is your turn to answer. In the coming days, enough materials will be placed in a public domain, which reveals the relationship between Parliament and the concerned Congress member of Pakistan. Wait for 10 September 2025.”
The Assam Chief Minister also called upon the late Tarun Gogoi and said, “What can be more heartbreaking than the grandson of the late Tarun Gogoi, not Indian citizens? As we investigate our investigation deeply, more details are being exposed.”
Mr. Gogoi said that no questions were answered by any of his questions and said, “Wait for 2026”. Assembly elections in Assam are going to be held next year.
Mr. Gogoi and his wife come amidst nationwide outrage over the Pahgam terror attack, citing their alleged Pakistan link on Mr. Gogoi and his wife, in which 25 tourists and a Kashmiri died. The Assam Police has launched a rift against those making controversial remarks on the terrorist strike, Mr. Sarma insisted that “Assam will not tolerate any person who directly or indirectly, supports or defends Pakistan in relation to the heinous attack in Pahgam”.
