Cong tears into CM’s SIT briefing, calls it ‘super flop’ and accuses Sarma of running a smear campaign

Political Firestorm Erupts Over SIT Report Disclosure

Assam’s political arena is heating up as Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launches a fierce attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following the latter’s detailed press briefing on a Special Investigation Team report.

Gogoi, who serves as the deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha and represents the Jorhat constituency, dismissed the over two-hour-long presentation as a complete failure to produce any solid evidence against him.

The controversy centers on allegations linking Gogoi and his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, to a Pakistani national named Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, with claims of sharing sensitive information and violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

Sarma publicly revealed SIT findings suggesting Gogoi made a confidential trip to Pakistan in 2013 for training and that his wife shared a detailed report on India’s post-2014 political climate while working as a Lead India consultant.

Gogoi countered by questioning why the Chief Minister held onto the report for six months without action, especially after promising its release on September 10 last year.

He argued that the timing of the briefing aligns suspiciously with Congress efforts to highlight land-related issues involving the Chief Minister’s family, gathered during their Parivartan Yatra across districts like Kamrup, Guwahati, and Nagaon.

This exchange has ignited a broader war of words, drawing attention as Assam gears up for assembly elections later this year.

Both sides are digging in, with Gogoi daring Sarma to make the full SIT report public and exploring legal options to challenge the accusations.

Gogoi Hits Back, Demands Transparency and Slams 'Smear Campaign'

Yesterday, in the 2.5-hour-long press conference, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma could not produce any evidence which could prove that I am an agent of another country. He kept beating around the bush. He had the SIT report for the last 6 months. If this concerns national security, our only question is: why was the CM silent on this report for the past 6 months? It is because the SIT constituted by him was unsuccessful in presenting any evidence.

Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati’s Rajiv Bhawan, Gogoi went further, calling the event not just a flop but a 'super flop show' that failed to convince even the attending journalists.

He accused Sarma of running a deliberate smear campaign to distract from pressing local issues and breaching his family’s privacy by mentioning details about his minor children.

Gogoi emphasized that such disclosures violate norms and urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice, while asserting that Sarma is unfit to lead the state.

On the allegations themselves, Gogoi denied any wrongdoing, pointing out that his wife’s professional engagements were transparent and not secretive.

He challenged the narrative around his Pakistan visit, which Sarma linked to locations like Taxila in Rawalpindi, countering claims of digital silence or sudden shifts in his parliamentary questions on defense matters post-return.

Meanwhile, Sarma has recommended a national probe by the Ministry of Home Affairs and seeks to revoke Colburn’s Overseas Citizen of India status, framing the issue as a national security concern above politics.

Congress leaders like Bhattacharya have echoed calls for legal action if evidence exists, urging the government to file cases in court rather than relying on press briefings.

Broader Implications Amid Election Build-Up

The spat underscores deepening divisions between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in Assam, where personal attacks are overshadowing policy debates.

Sarma’s revelations, including claims of 13 visits by the Pakistani agent during Congress rule and undisclosed bank accounts, aim to portray Gogoi as compromised on security fronts.

Yet, Gogoi flips the script, portraying the SIT as a tool for political vendetta, especially after Congress began exposing alleged land dealings connected to nearly 4,000 acres linked to the Chief Minister.

This back-and-forth risks polarizing voters further as polls approach, with both camps accusing the other of distraction tactics.

Gogoi also invoked the Juvenile Justice Act over the privacy breach concerning his children, planning to pursue remedies in Delhi.

Sarma, holding the home portfolio, insists the probe’s political fallout is secondary to safeguarding national interests, with the state cabinet set to deliberate next steps.

Observers note that such high-stakes accusations could prompt central intervention, potentially escalating the matter beyond state boundaries.

The public remains divided, with some viewing Sarma’s moves as bold accountability and others seeing Congress’s response as a justified defense against mudslinging.

In summary, Gaurav Gogoi’s blistering critique of Himanta Biswa Sarma’s SIT briefing as a 'super flop' and smear campaign highlights intensifying pre-election rivalries in Assam, fueled by unresolved allegations of foreign links, delayed disclosures, and counter-charges over land issues, leaving the full truth hanging in the balance.