Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma (left) and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi (right).
Credit: PTI Photos
Guwahati: A day after seven Opposition parties, including Congress in Assam, decided to forge an anti-BJP front for next year's Assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday hit at Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi reiterating his charge that the latter is an "ISI agent."
"Gaurav Gogoi is an agent of ISI of Pakistan. Gaurav is a little less but his wife is more. The entire family has been working on behalf of Pakistan," Sarma alleged while talking to reporters after a government event, when asked about the Opposition front.
"The SIT we formed got strong evidence about his direct links with ISI and Pakistan. We could not disclose the report in September and November as the state is going through a very emotional phase (Zubeen Garg's death). If I disclose it amid this emotional time, people may question me saying that I am doing politics during this emotional time," Sarma said.
Sarma had earlier formed an SIT alleging that Gaurav and his wife Elizabeth, a British national, had visited Pakistan several times and maintained links with ISI. Sarma announced that he would disclose the report on September 10. The SIT submitted the report on September 10 but Sarma deferred its disclosure saying the Cabinet would deliberate on it before making it public. But death of singer Zubeen Garg on September 19 left Assam into mass grief.
Gaurav, however, called it a "flop show" and challenged Sarma to upload the SIT report on Assam government's website to allow all to see it.
Three Gogois targeted
On Thursday, Sarma also targeted three Gogois: Gaurav Gogoi, Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Akhil Gogoi. Gaurav is the president of Assam unit of Congress and is likely to be projected as the CM face of the proposed Opposition front. Lurinjyoti leads the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Akhil is the president of Raijor Dal, a regional anti-BJP party. AJP and Raijor Dal are part of the proposed anti-BJP front. "The three Gogois are not working for their community (Ahom). They are working to protect the Miya Muslims," Sarma said. Three Gogois are likely to turn the tides against BJP in eastern Assam constituencies, where the Ahom community calls the shot in elections.
Assam unit of BJP also slammed the Opposition front calling it "unholy alliance" and "anti-Assam." The party said people would again vote for Himanta Biswa Sarma government for its works to protect Assam and the Assamese people.