Congress Slams CM Himanta Over ‘Pakistan Link’ Charge, Calls Claims Baseless

The Congress party has strongly criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his allegations that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has links with Pakistan, calling the claims baseless , politically motivated , and unsupported by evidence . Party leaders said the Chief Minister’s remarks were irresponsible and claimed he appeared to have lost his mental balance by making personal accusations against a political opponent without presenting proof. They argued that the inability to initiate firm legal action or register an FIR against senior Congress figures further highlights the weakness of the charges . Congress leaders at both national and state levels rallied behind Gaurav Gogoi, accusing the Chief Minister of lowering the dignity of his office through repeated public allegations.

The controversy stems from statements made by Himanta Sarma during a media interaction, where he alleged “deep connections” between Gaurav Gogoi, his British wife Elizabeth Colburn , and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh , claiming that sensitive information had reached a neighbouring country. Responding to this, AICC Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh said political criticism is part of democracy, but dragging family members into unverified accusations was highly condemnable . He stressed that no credible proof had been presented publicly and described the charges as an attempt to divert attention through sensational claims rather than substantive issues.

Congress leaders also brought historical political context into the debate, recalling that former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had played a significant role in Himanta Sarma’s early political rise. They accused the Chief Minister of now targeting the Gogoi family for political reasons, despite earlier benefiting from that association. According to Congress voices, this shift reflects political hostility rather than governance concerns, especially as electoral competition intensifies in the state.

Further, opposition leaders referred to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Assam Police in February 2025 to examine social-media remarks linked to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said a press interaction regarding the SIT findings failed to clarify key issues, while former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora questioned the SIT’s jurisdiction and scope. He noted that even the Chief Minister had indicated that only part of the matter was examined, which, according to the opposition, exposes administrative gaps . Congress leaders also asked why the Chief Minister remained silent for months if the matter genuinely involved national security .

At the national level, Congress media department head Pawan Khera alleged that raising Pakistan-related themes close to elections reflects a campaign strategy aimed at polarisation. All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said attempts to mislead the public would ultimately be judged by voters, while Assam Mahila Congress president Meera Borthakur remarked that citizens were growing weary of what she described as political drama . Meanwhile, Himanta Sarma has maintained that Gaurav Gogoi is part of an “anti-national network” and said he is leaving the matter to the people’s judgment , setting the stage for an intensifying political confrontation as Assam moves toward a crucial electoral phase.