Assam CM Claims "Proof" of Gaurav Gogoi’s Pakistan Visit on ISI Invitation, "Absurd" Says Congress MP

The political spat between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi intensified on Sunday, with Sarma accusing Gogoi of visiting Pakistan at the invitation of the country’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Speaking to reporters, Sarma claimed the state government had “documentary evidence” of Gogoi’s alleged trip, suggesting it was not for tourism but for "training" purposes. “Gaurav Gogoi visited Pakistan on an invitation from the ISI. This is the first time I am revealing this. We have documents to prove it. He certainly did not go for tourism. It was for training,” the Assam Chief Minister alleged.

Sarma further asserted that the invitation came directly from Pakistan’s Home Department, not through cultural or foreign affairs channels, which he claimed implied a deeper, more concerning motive. “When does a Home Department send an invitation? Only to impart training. Otherwise, such invitations come from foreign affairs or educational institutions. This was from the Home Department,” he said.

The Chief Minister also reiterated earlier claims regarding Gaurav Gogoi’s wife, British national Elizabeth Colburn, alleging she had travelled between India and Pakistan 19 times — a point that Sarma has repeatedly brought up in recent political exchanges.

In addition, Sarma stated that the government would release all evidence to the public by September 10, once it had been properly verified. In light of these accusations, he urged the central government not to include Gaurav Gogoi in the all-party delegations heading abroad to explain India’s position post Operation Sindoor. “Three MPs from the Northeast are part of these delegations—one from Nagaland and two from Assam. We are proud of them and believe they will represent India effectively on the global stage,” he added.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has categorically denied the allegations, dismissing them as “baseless” and “absurd”. He accused Sarma of spreading falsehoods and compared his behaviour to that of a social media troll.

“I am worried about the health of the Chief Minister. For reasons best known to him, I have been on his radar ever since I entered politics in Assam 13 years ago. He has made countless false claims about me,” Gogoi told the media.

Refuting the claim of an ISI invitation, he added, “The most recent allegation borders on insanity. If he has any documents or proof, let him release them. Otherwise, these are just wild claims with no substance.”

Taking a personal swipe, Gogoi remarked, “When things aren’t right at home, it shows in one’s mental state. We will make sure that after 2026, he gets some rest.”

He continued his criticism, saying, “The script the CM is following is worse than a B-grade film. He is simply piling lies upon lies. A chief minister should not act like an IT cell troll.”

Calling the claims “99 per cent nonsense”, Gogoi insisted that facts must be presented if any truth exists. “The farce won’t last long. Let him put his so-called evidence in the public domain.”