Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday intensified his allegations against Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi. He claimed that Gogoi and his wife had close ties with Pakistan’s establishment. Sarma said, "I have documents to prove his wife's involvement in collecting Indian Intelligence input. I will reveal details on September 10."

In his first public response to the issue, Gaurav Gogoi clarified that his wife spent only one year in Pakistan in 2013 while working on an international project on climate change in South Asia.

Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress MP Gogoi and his wife of being “deeply involved in anti-India activities.” He also claimed that Gogoi’s son, who was born in India, later acquired British citizenship after giving up his Indian passport. He described these as “very serious allegations.”

Sarma further claimed that Pakistan’s Home Department, and not its External Affairs or Cultural Ministries, had facilitated Gogoi’s visit to Pakistan. He called this a matter of grave national concern.

Gaurav Gogoi firmly denied the accusations. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, he said, “About 14–15 years ago, my wife, who is a well-known expert in public policy, worked on an international project in South Asia focused on climate change. She spent one year there, including some time in Pakistan, before returning to India around 2012–13. I also remember going with her once around 2013.”

He added, “Since then, she has continued her work and took a new job in 2015. Their (the BJP’s) job is defamation and by raking this issue they are creating this whole thing like a C-grade Bollywood movie which they have said would be released on September 10. But that is going to be a flop miserably.”

Gaurav Gogoi called the BJP leader’s accusations “ridiculous, baseless and nonsense.” He referred to the controversy as a “C-grade Bollywood movie” scripted by the BJP.

Gogoi questioned why the central government had not taken action over the past 11 years if there had been any misconduct. He accused Himanta Sarma of trying to create rift within the Congress party.

Gogoi also pointed to Sarma’s history of making false claims. He referenced an earlier allegation where Sarma claimed that Rahul Gandhi had used a “body double” during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Gogoi said, “I am the son of Tarun Gogoi. I will not be intimidated. The truth will prevail.” He demanded two SITs—one to investigate him and another to investigate Sarma.

In response to Gogoi’s remarks, CM Himanta Sarma welcomed what he called Gogoi’s “admission” and claimed that credible evidence supported the allegations of Gogoi’s proximity to the Pakistani establishment.

Sarma wrote on X, “Finally, Congress MP Shri Gaurav Gogoi has admitted that he visited Pakistan. But let us be very clear — this is just the beginning, not the end.”

He added, “What lies ahead is far more serious. There exists every reasonable ground, supported by credible inputs and documented information, to suggest that Shri Gogoi has maintained proximity with the Pakistani establishment.”

At the Congress office at 24, Akbar Road, Gaurav Gogoi raised questions about the timing and intent of the allegations. He said, “Our counter-question is this: if, according to these accusations, my wife or I committed any wrongdoing or illegal act, then who has been in power for the last 11–12 years? What have the central agencies been doing all this time? Everyone knows the level of scrutiny involved when someone crosses a national border — whether entering or exiting.”