Assam CM Sarma Questions Inclusion of Congress MP in Anti-Terror Delegation
Himanta Biswa Sarma raises national security concerns over Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s reported Pakistan visit amid ‘Operation Sindoor’ diplomatic mission.
Continuing his criticism of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday expressed concerns over the inclusion of a Congress MP from Assam in the proposed all-party delegations to key partner countries, aimed at conveying India’s message of zero tolerance against terrorism following ‘Operation Sindoor’.
In a social media post, Sarma, clearly referring to Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Gogoi, alleged, “One of the MPs named in the list (from Assam) has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan—reportedly for two weeks—and credible documents show that his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India.”
Calling this a matter of national security, the Assam chief minister urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reconsider including the said MP in what he described as a “sensitive and strategic assignment.”
Sarma’s statement came soon after Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed that the party had submitted the names of four MPs for the government’s foreign delegations. These delegations are intended to explain India’s stance on terrorism originating from Pakistan.
Ramesh said the Congress president and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had been approached by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to nominate MPs for the mission.
The four names submitted on May 16 were Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Brar. Notably absent from this list was senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who on Friday publicly stated that he had been invited by the government to lead one of the delegations.
Ramesh said, “By noon yesterday, May 16th, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi) wrote to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs giving the following names on behalf of the INC — former Union Cabinet Minister Anand Sharma, Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar.”