New Delhi (India), February 16: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh strongly criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his allegations against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Gogoi, calling it an “atrocious smear campaign.” Ramesh, who serves as the Congress General Secretary for Communications, confirmed that legal action was being initiated immediately in response to the accusations.
Ramesh posted on X, stating, “The Assam CM and the BJP have begun an atrocious smear campaign targeting my colleague Gaurav Gogoi. This is character assassination of the worst type. Legal action is being initiated right away.”
He accused CM Himanta Sarma of leveling these allegations in an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Gaurav Gogoi, who has been actively exposing alleged corruption involving the Assam Chief Minister. “The smear campaign is because Gaurav Gogoi won the Jorhat Lok Sabha seat in June 2024 despite CM Sarma and other ministers campaigning against him. Gaurav Gogoi has been at the forefront of revealing the blatant corruption and wrongdoings of the Assam CM,” Ramesh added.
Ramesh also expressed confidence that the Congress would win the upcoming assembly elections in Assam next year, stating, “The Assam CM – like his Supreme Leader in New Delhi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) – is a master of defamation, distortion, and diversion. He is desperately trying to divert the attention of the people of Assam from his failures and false claims. But in about twelve months, the people of Assam will make him a former CM and bring his party to the opposition.”
In response, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the legal action initiated by Congress, but also reminded the party of their “humiliating defeat” in the previous assembly elections. Sarma reiterated that it is his prerogative to protect the national security of the country. “Who will be the former and present Chief Minister will be decided by the people of Assam—not by you,” he posted on X.
Sarma advised Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi to move court at the earliest so that the issue could be addressed in a judicial setting. “I wholeheartedly welcome legal action against me. In fact, the Government of Assam is also initiating legal proceedings from today,” he said.
The controversy erupted after CM Sarma accused Gaurav Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colbourn Gogoi, of having connections with the Pakistani government and George Soros’ Open Society. He also questioned certain events related to Gogoi’s political actions and alleged associations, including a 2015 meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner to India. Sarma demanded that Gogoi and his wife address serious allegations regarding their supposed links to the ISI and involvement in taking young minds to the Pakistan High Commission for “brainwashing and radicalization.”