"Big difference between going on national duty and going quietly": Assam CM Sarma targets Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over alleged Pakistan visit

India Gazette

21-05-2025

Golaghat (Assam) [India], May 21 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday intensified his attack on Congress MP and Deputy LoP in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, raising serious questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits abroad.
Sarma emphasised that official visits are transparent and involve a delegation of officials, security personnel, and foreign affairs experts.
Addressing a press conference, CM Sarma accused Gogoi of 'secretly' visiting Pakistan without informing the nation. He further stated that there is a difference between official diplomatic visits and personal visits,
Alleging that the Congress MP has justified others' visits to Pakistan, CM Sarma asked if it meant Gogoi also went there. He highlighted that all conversations during official visits are recorded and kept in official records, stressing that comparing official visits to secret or personal ones is not justified.
'Jaswant Singh, Narendra Modi, Advani always informed the nation before visiting any country. Now, a Deputy LoP who raises questions in the Parliament, should at least know basic facts. For example, when the Pakistan PM visits India or vice versa, it is an official visit. When our PM travels abroad, he is accompanied by foreign affairs officials, security personnel and a full delegation, not alone. Every conversation from start to end is recorded and kept in official records. All this happens transparently and in broad daylight. But comparing such official visits to secret or personal ones is not justified. There is a big difference between going on national duty and going quietly without informing. Now he is justifying others' visits to Pakistan. Does that mean he went too?...' CM Sarma said in a video he posted on X.
https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1925111855795843558
Earlier on Tuesday, Assam CM Sarma in a veiled attack on Gaurav Gogoi, remarked, 'Only a certain section of Indians finds itself restless and frustrated every time India defeats Pakistan in cricket. Only a select few dare to visit Pakistan with formal approval from its Interior Ministry. Even fewer draw salaries from Pakistani-funded NGOs. And the rarest -- and most disgraceful -- are those who go so far as to surrender their minor child's Indian passport. Unfortunately, we have a Member of Parliament from Assam who fits into all these categories. But let it be clear -- our laws know how to deal with such individuals. The nation will not tolerate betrayal.'
Earlier, CM Sarma had said, 'Gaurav Gogoi had gone to Pakistan on invitation of ISI. For the first time, I want to say that he went to Pakistan at the invitation of ISI. We have that document. He went there to receive training.'
The Chief Minister further claimed that Gogoi's visit was facilitated not by Pakistan's Ministry of External Affairs or Cultural Ministry, but by the Pakistan's Home Department, making it a matter of serious national concern.
'Gaurav Gogoi went there after receiving the letter from the Pakistan Home Department. He went there following the invitation of the Pakistan government. Not External Affairs, Cultural Ministry, he went there at the invitation of the Pakistan Home Department,' Sarma claimed, adding It is a 'serious matter...more considerable action will be taken.'
On Sunday, strongly refuting Assam Chief Minister's 'absurd' allegation that he visited Pakistan on the invitation of ISI, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi called Himanta Biswa Sarma 'troll' and said the script followed by the BJP leader is 'worse than a B-grade film.'
Responding to the CM's remarks, Gogoi, in a series of posts on X, stated, 'I am worried about the health of the Chief Minister of Assam. For some reason best known to him, I have been on his radar since my entry into Assam. He has made many baseless remarks about me in the past 13 years. The most recent one borders on insanity and the absurd.'
'It is often said that when something is bothering at home, it reflects in the person's mental state. We will ensure that after 2026, he gets to have some rest. The script the Chief Minister follows is worse than a B-grade film. To cover up one lie, a person has to say countless lies. That is exactly what the Chief Minister is doing,' Gogoi said. (ANI)