Drop Gaurav from team against terrorism: Sarma

Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for the removal of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi from the four-member Congress delegation nominated to explain India's stance on Pakistani terrorism abroad.

The discussion began when Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on X on Saturday morning, "Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The INC was asked to submit names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India's stance on terrorism from Pakistan." The Congress nominated Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Brar.

Responding to Ramesh's post, Sarma alleged that an unnamed MP from Assam had spent two weeks in Pakistan and that the MP's wife received payment from a Pakistan-based NGO .

Later, speaking to the media here, Sarma further said, "The delegation is to visit various countries against Pakistan. The entire idea of sending the delegations is to expose Pakistan, but this MP from Assam has never criticised Pakistan during the peak of conflict also. He will only post tweets indirectly. He has never accused Pakistan directly."

"Then, we have information that he visited Pakistan. He has not denied that. We have evidence that his wife was paid for at least two years by a Pakistan-based NGO, in turn, that NGO is very close to ISI. Now, how can that MP go outside our country and expose Pakistan where he himself is involved with that country," Sarma added.

Sarma appealed to Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi to exclude Gogoi from this strategic assignment, citing national security concerns above political differences.

The Union parliamentary affairs ministry announced on Saturday that seven all-party delegations would visit key partner countries, including UN Security Council members, later this month regarding Operation Sindoor and India's anti-terrorism efforts.

The ministry emphasised that these delegations would demonstrate India's unified approach and zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism in all forms.