Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi refrained from directly addressing the criticism by the family of Kargil war hero Captain Jintu Gogoi regarding his alleged connections to Pakistan. Instead, during his visit to Majuli, he emphasized issues such as flood mitigation, erosion control, and ethnic status concerns. The Chief Minister’s announcement of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on Gogoi’s alleged links stirred political controversy.
Gogoi, in response to queries from journalists, chose not to engage with the remarks made by the martyr’s parents, expressing his profound respect for them. He highlighted his numerous visits to the family during his tenure as a Lok Sabha MP. Captain Jintu Gogoi had sacrificed his life during the Kargil War. His father, Thogiran Gogoi, expressed distress over reports of his son’s visits to Pakistan, emphasizing the pain felt by families who have lost loved ones in service to the nation.
Amid escalating political tensions, the Congress leader underscored the importance of governance priorities, particularly addressing the persistent challenges of floods and erosion in Majuli and other riverine regions of Assam. Gogoi outlined that if the Congress assumes power in the state, they would seek financial support from the Prime Minister for flood and erosion management projects. Additionally, he reiterated the party’s commitment to advocating for Scheduled Tribe status for six major ethnic groups in Assam, emphasizing that the decision lies within the Centre’s jurisdiction.
Reflecting on his father Tarun Gogoi’s term as Chief Minister, Gogoi expressed willingness to collaborate with the Prime Minister on state-related issues, highlighting past successful initiatives resulting from cooperation between his father and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government. Regarding the Prime Minister’s recent visit to the state, Gogoi emphasized that the upcoming Assembly election focuses on selecting the state government and Chief Minister, rather than the Prime Minister. As the election nears, the SIT investigation controversy has intensified campaign discussions, alongside concerns over flood management and ethnic community status.
