"ISI & RAW in the same house?" Assam CM sharpens attacks on Cong MP Gaurav Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Sarma had a day ago said that he wanted clarification on Congress' Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha "How can ISI and Raw live together in the same house?" statement.

"We are not accusing anyone, but we want some facts to come out. I have some questions. Firstly, Is it true or false that the MP's wife worked in Pakistan? Secondly, if she has taken Indian Citizenship or not. Thirdly, if the MP had visited Pakistan during this time and while meeting the Pakistan ambassador, if he had taken permission from the External affairs ministry or not....How can ISI and R&AW stay in the same house? ISI is Pakistan, and R&AW is India; it is not possible for them to live together," the Assam Chief Minister said while speaking to reporters on Friday.

Gaurav Gogoi has found himself at the centre of a controversy after a section of BJP workers and leaders, led by Sarma, raised questions over his wife, Elizabeth Gogoi's, foreign citizenship and accused her of having ties with the ISI.

They also questioned a meeting Gogoi had led with the then-Pakistani High Commissioner to India ten years ago in 2015. The controversy quickly escalated when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seized upon the claims.

This prompted a Congress MP to react sharply, accusing the Assam chief minister of being "restless" and insecure about his position.

Dismissing the allegations as "laughable", Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday said, "If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am an R&AW agent of India. I don't mind if a family against whom there are various cases and several allegations makes accusations against me. The Assam chief minister is making these allegations only to divert attention from the allegations against him."

With this, the battle lines are clearly drawn for the two sides ahead of the state polls that are due next year. (ANI)