"Going to Pakistan is crime...": Assam CM Sarma hits out at Congress MP Gogoi

Morigaon (Assam) [India], May 5 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday hit out at Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and questioned the latter of whether he had toured Pakistan or not.
Speaking to mediapersons, Sarma said that Gaurav Gogoi is not "God" and action can also be taken against him.
"If we can arrest 40 persons who talked in support of Pakistan, then we can take action against Gaurav Gogoi for his Pakistan visit. Gaurav Gogoi is not God. Gaurav Gogoi should have answered whether he had visited Pakistan or not. Whether he changed his children's citizenship by consulting with his children or made the decision himself. Why did his wife travel to Pakistan 19 times? If he doesn't give the answer, then Himanta Biswa Sarma knows very well how to get the answer," Chief minister said.
"Gaurav Gogoi is not God for me. He is a criminal. In my view, going to Pakistan is a crime. There are no Kaziranga, Manas, or Orang (national parks) in Pakistan. Whose house in Pakistan did he go to? He will have to inform us. How do you find out the answer? The Assam government, Assam SIT, and Himanta Biswa Sarma know it well," he added.
On Saturday, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for focusing on personal attacks instead of addressing the pressing issues of children in the state, including rising school dropout rates, child labour, and worsening government education standards.
Speaking to the media, Gogoi responded to recent remarks made by the Chief Minister, who had controversially stated he would resign if Gogoi could prove that his child holds Indian citizenship. Dismissing the statement as a political diversion, Gogoi focused on what he termed the real crisis affecting Assam's future, its children.
"The Chief Minister is concerned with my children. That is his choice, his prerogative. I am concerned with the welfare of the children of Assam. Today, dropout rates are increasing. Children are being sold into slavery. The condition of government schools is deteriorating every day. Children are so impoverished that they are being forced into labour. I take responsibility for addressing these issues as a member of the Congress party," Gogoi said.
Chief Minister Sarma also said that his government is probing Gogoi's alleged visit to Pakistan.
Speaking to mediapersons, Chief Minister Sarma said, "I have evidence that Gaurav Gogoi's son and daughter are not Indian citizens. We are examining what he did there (Pakistan) for 15 days. There is no tourism place in Pakistan; it is only a terrorist adda. It is 100 per cent confirmed that he went there, but what did he do there in 15 days? Robert Vadra and Gaurav Gogoi are more concerned about Pakistan than India."
Earlier this week, Chief Minister Sarma inquired whether Gogoi's wife receives a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India, and sought details about the citizenship status of Gogoi's wife and two children.
"Questions for the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from the Congress Party: 1. Did you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, could you kindly clarify the purpose of your visit? 2. Does your wife indeed receive a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing and working in India? If so, may we ask why a Pakistan-based organisation is paying a salary for activities conducted in India? 3. What is the citizenship status of your wife and your two children? Are they Indian citizens, or do they hold citizenship of another country? Many more questions will follow," he posted on X. (ANI)