A sharp political face-off in Assam intensified on Tuesday as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly challenged Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi to take a joint oath over allegations surrounding their assets and personal claims.
Addressing the public through a live social media broadcast, Sarma said he was ready to accept Gogoi’s earlier challenge of swearing on the Bhagavad Gita regarding his financial disclosures, including any foreign properties, bank accounts, or passports associated with his family. He proposed that both leaders meet at Batadrava Than at 9 am on Wednesday to take the oath in full public view.
However, the Chief Minister coupled his acceptance with a counter-demand, asking Gogoi to come clean on the alleged overseas financial links of his own family. Sarma specifically raised questions about Gogoi’s wife’s reported assets and bank accounts in the United Kingdom, and also sought clarification on Gogoi’s past visit to Pakistan. He referred to a reported week-long stay in Rawalpindi, questioning the purpose and nature of that trip.
“I accept the challenge,” Sarma said, urging Gogoi to confirm his participation publicly. He added that the venue could be shifted to Guwahati if required, but insisted that the exercise should take place transparently.
The confrontation marks a new high in the ongoing political slugfest between the BJP and the Congress in Assam, with both sides trading allegations amid an increasingly heated election atmosphere.
The development follows Gogoi’s remarks a day earlier, where he had challenged the Chief Minister to deny allegations under oath. Speaking after a campaign event in Raha, Gogoi accused Sarma of concealing overseas assets while targeting political opponents with what he termed misleading claims.
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