The political storm surrounding Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has taken a serious turn with the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma setting up a Special Investigative Team (SIT) to probe his alleged links with Pakistan. The SIT’s mandate includes investigating an alleged Pakistani agent who is said to have acted as a conduit between Gogoi and the ISI chief. The registration of an FIR in this matter is a welcome move, reinforcing the need for accountability in Indian politics. The controversy exploded after reports surfaced about Gogoi’s visit to the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi. Making matters worse, his wife, Elizabeth Gogoi, a British national, is alleged to have connections with Pakistan’s notorious intelligence agency, the ISI. The Assam Police’s SIT is now expected to summon the Gogoi couple for questioning. These are serious allegations, and the Congress MP must come forward with a clear and credible explanation. When confronted by the media, Gogoi brushed off the issue, insisting that he knows his rights and responsibilities as an MP and sees no wrongdoing in his embassy visit. But his dismissive attitude only raises more questions. If his visit was above board, why the hesitation in providing transparency? And why, out of all diplomatic missions, was the Pakistan embassy his destination?
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Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has made it clear that he is not directly accusing Gogoi of anti-national activities but maintains that the onus is on him to justify his actions. As a public representative, did Gogoi seek permission from the External Affairs Ministry before engaging with Pakistani officials? If not, why the secrecy? Furthermore, does his wife hold Indian citizenship? If she hasn’t renounced her British nationality, how was she allowed to participate in the electoral process by campaigning for him? Beyond the immediate legal and ethical concerns, this episode highlights a broader issue: the Congress party’s growing list of controversies when it comes to national security. For decades, successive Indian governments—including those led by Congress—have identified Pakistan as an adversarial state that harbours and supports terrorism. The nation has suffered repeatedly at the hands of cross-border terror, and the idea of an Indian MP possibly engaging with Pakistan under suspicious circumstances is deeply disturbing. Gogoi’s troubles are far from over. With an aggressive SIT investigation and mounting political pressure, he can no longer dodge the fundamental question: What exactly was the purpose of his Pakistan embassy visit? His silence or half-hearted justifications will not satisfy the public or the investigating agencies. India deserves answers, and Gogoi must provide them—now.