New Delhi: Congress MP and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president on Wednesday responded to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's allegations regarding his visit to Pakistan and clarified that the trip took place over a decade ago, in 2013, and was related to his wife's professional assignment.
Hitting back at Assam CM Sarma's allegations, the Congress MP said that the subject of his visit is being used to "defame him."
"The ruling party's daily bread is defaming someone. They are making a C-grade cinema on this topic, which they announced will be released on September 10. This is going to prove a flop," Gogoi said.
Speaking at a press conference today, Gogoi said, "About 14-15 years ago, my wife, a well-known public policy expert, worked on an international project in South Asia focused on climate change. She spent one year in Pakistan before returning to India around 2012-13. Since then, she has continued her work and took a job in India in 2015."
"Around 2013, I remember going with her once to Pakistan. This subject is being used against me for defamation by the ruling party. This is because their daily bread is defaming someone. With this subject, they are making a C-grade cinema, which they have announced to release on September 10. This is going to prove a flop. The people of Assam know," said Gogoi.
Adding further, Gogoi said, "I have a question for them (ruling party), that if my wife and I have done any wrong, gone against the law or engaged in any illegal activity, then who was at the centre back then, 11-12 years ago? What was the central government and its probe agencies doing all this time?"
"Everybody knows that specific protocols and security measures are in place while crossing borders, whether crossing the border and arriving in Pakistan or vice versa. I am a leader of the opposition party. I speak my mind in the Parliament, and everybody can access my biodata and CV. There is only a year left for the polls, and the only aim of the ruling party is to create apprehension in our party's leadership. Our party has completely rejected this," he added. (ANI)
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