Sat May 17 09:19:14 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary of the text:**
The text describes a political controversy in India sparked by the inclusion of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi in a delegation to be sent abroad to explain India’s position on terrorism from Pakistan. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly questioned Gogoi’s inclusion, citing concerns about national security. Sarma alleged that Gogoi had a prolonged stay in Pakistan, his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO, he met a Pakistan Army officer, and took youth to the Pakistani embassy for “radicalization”. These allegations are currently under investigation by a special investigation team of the Assam Police.
**Here’s the text rewritten as a news article:**
**Assam CM Questions Congress MP’s Role in Anti-Terrorism Delegation, Cites Security Concerns**
**Guwahati, May 17, 2025** – A political storm is brewing in India as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly challenged the inclusion of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi in a multi-party delegation tasked with briefing foreign nations on Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism. The delegations are being organized by the central government in response to the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor strikes on terror bases within Pakistan.
Sarma voiced his concerns via social media platform X, responding to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s announcement of the four MPs selected by Rahul Gandhi for the delegations: Gaurav Gogoi, Anand Sharma, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Brar.
“One of the MPs named in the list [from Assam] has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan,” Sarma wrote. He further alleged that “credible documents show that his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India.”
The Chief Minister urged Rahul Gandhi to reconsider Gogoi’s participation, stating, “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.”
Sarma has previously accused Gogoi of meeting a Pakistan Army officer during a visit to the neighboring country and claimed that the Congress MP took a group of young people to the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi for “radicalisation.” Concerns have also been raised about Gogoi’s questioning of defence matters in parliament.
A special investigation team of the Assam Police is currently probing these allegations, with a report expected in September. The controversy highlights the sensitive political climate surrounding India-Pakistan relations and the scrutiny faced by politicians with perceived connections to the neighboring country. The Congress party has yet to respond to Sarma’s allegations.
First Piper 