Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to remove an Assam MP from the list of Congress members nominated for all-party delegations traveling abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism from Pakistan.
Concerns Over Alleged Pakistan Links
Sarma, without directly naming the MP, appeared to be referring to Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’s Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha. The Assam CM has previously alleged that Gogoi has connections to Pakistan through his British spouse, Elizabeth Colburn, and claimed that the MP had stayed in Pakistan for 15 days without informing Indian authorities.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sarma said, “One of the MPs named in the list has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan—reportedly for two weeks—and credible documents show his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India. In the interest of national security and beyond partisan politics, I urge Leader of Opposition Sri Rahul Gandhi not to include this individual in such a sensitive and strategic assignment.”
Congress’s Nominations for Delegation
The Congress party had nominated four MPs for the government-led delegations:
- Anand Sharma (Former Union Minister)
- Gaurav Gogoi (Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha)
- Syed Naseer Hussain (Rajya Sabha MP)
- Amarinder Singh “Raja” Brar (Lok Sabha MP)
The delegations are set to visit key global capitals to present India’s position on cross-border terrorism, particularly in the wake of Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases inside Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Political Fallout and Responses
Sarma’s remarks have intensified political tensions, with BJP leaders questioning Congress’s selection process for the delegation. Gogoi has dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Congress insiders suggest that the party is standing by its nominations, arguing that the delegation’s purpose is to strengthen India’s diplomatic outreach rather than engage in domestic political disputes.
Conclusion
As the delegations prepare for their international visits, Sarma’s concerns have added a new dimension to the ongoing political discourse surrounding national security and foreign policy. Whether Congress will revise its list remains to be seen.
