Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday mounted a strong defence of party MP Gaurav Gogoi, describing the allegations levelled against him by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as politically motivated and asserting that attacks on him were proof he was on the “right path”.
Addressing reporters on 20 February, Priyanka drew a sharp contrast between what she termed two kinds of leadership. “There are two types of leaders, one, those with a positive mindset and others who believe in polarisation and attacking people,” she said.
Referring to the controversy surrounding Gogoi and his wife, she alleged that the Congress MP was being targeted because of his political stance. “He is walking on the right path,” she said, adding, “It is like a badge of honour.”
The remarks come amid a growing political storm in Assam after Sarma accused Gogoi and his wife of links to Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, alleging that the association was part of a larger design to undermine India’s development interests. The Chief Minister had earlier announced that the matter, initially probed by a state Special Investigation Team, had been referred to a central agency.
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“We have transferred this case with proofs to the Central government and the Central government will investigate the matter,” Sarma said previously.
Priyanka, however, urged the Assam Chief Minister to focus on governance rather than personal allegations. “You should tell the CM to talk about the development of Assam and what he has done for the state,” she said, sharpening the Congress’s counter-attack.
The exchange has intensified the political contest in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections due in the coming months. The Congress has sought to portray the allegations as an attempt to deflect attention from state issues, while the BJP maintains that the matter concerns national security and warrants a thorough investigation.
Priyanka added that voters in Assam were aware of what she described as the BJP’s discomfort with Gogoi’s growing political profile, signalling that the controversy is likely to remain a flashpoint in the run-up to the polls.
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