Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged on Sunday that Pakistan may have digitally recorded every detail of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s visit to the country in 2013. Sarma warned that such recordings could potentially be used for blackmail should Gogoi attain a higher constitutional or executive position in the future. Speaking at a press conference at Lok Sewa Bhawan, Sarma unveiled findings from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation into Gogoi’s suspected connections to Pakistan, stating it is a common practice for “enemy nations” to maintain comprehensive surveillance records of visitors, especially political figures.
Sarma asserted that Pakistan likely documented Gogoi’s meetings, travel, and activities during his stay. “When visiting an enemy country, every movement is recorded-who you met, where you stayed, what conversations took place. Pakistan would have created digital records, including videos. The threat is not just immediate; it extends into the future,” he explained.
The Chief Minister suggested that this collected material could serve as leverage against Gogoi if he were to gain more political power, questioning what would happen if such records emerged should Gogoi advance to a role like Chief Minister. “Wouldn’t he be susceptible to blackmail? Wouldn’t there be pressure to act a certain way?” Sarma queried.
After disclosing the SIT’s findings, Sarma characterized Gogoi as being in a “highly vulnerable position” due to the potential risks exposed by the investigation. He indicated that Gogoi might not fully recognize the identities or affiliations of everyone he met during his visit to Pakistan. “It is possible that he does not even know who he engaged with. But that doesn’t lessen the risk. Pakistan would know,” Sarma stated.
According to the Chief Minister, such records could resurface years later via media exposure or indirect intimidation tactics. “At a pivotal moment, these materials could be presented to the media or used privately to influence decisions,” he cautioned. Sarma also linked Gogoi’s visit to the inquiries he made in Parliament about defense strategies after returning to India, questioning why a newly elected MP would seek sensitive information on defense preparedness and military capabilities.
“If there was no pressure, no vulnerability, why were such sensitive defense-related questions asked? These issues should be assessed by national security agencies,” he noted. He stressed that his comments were motivated not by political rivalry but by significant national security concerns. “This is not about political parties; it’s about protecting the country from any form of external influence on our political leadership,” Sarma affirmed.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the Assam government would turn over the findings to the Ministry of Home Affairs, invoking the state’s limited jurisdiction in examining foreign intelligence operations and cross-border surveillance. He maintained the importance of transparency to eliminate doubts. “If there is nothing to hide, everything should be placed in the public domain,” Sarma asserted, emphasizing the need for clarity regarding Gogoi’s Pakistan visit to “close the chapter once and for all.”
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/pakistan-visit-may-expose-gaurav-gogoi-to-blackmail-risk-claims-assam-cm-1606888
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Publish Date: 2026-02-08 14:03:00
