'Pakistanis need urgent support': Assam CM Himanta Sarma, MP Gaurav Gogoi lock horns on X over old post

A social media spat between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi turned fiery on Tuesday after an old tweet from 2022 resurfaced, triggering fresh political acrimony.

According to a PTI report, State Information and Public Relations Minister Pijush Hazarika reignited the row by sharing a screenshot of Gogoi’s post from August 29, 2022, in which the Jorhat MP had expressed sympathy for the victims of catastrophic floods in Pakistan, even as India celebrated a T20 Asia Cup win over its arch-rival.

While the entire nation rejoiced in Indias glorious victory over Pakistan, some chose to divert attention and sympathy toward a country that breeds terror against India.This is not just misplaced empathy its a pattern.From escorting students to the Pakistan High pic.twitter.com/N5sj0lqCr3

Pijush Hazarika (@Pijush_hazarika) May 20, 2025

“While we celebrate the victory of our Indian cricket team over Pakistan, we must not forget the humanitarian disaster that has claimed 1,000 lives in our neighbouring country... Pakistani people need urgent relief and support,” Gogoi had written then.

Hazarika, quoting the post on X, said the nation was united in celebrating India’s cricket win, but “some chose to divert attention and sympathy toward a country that breeds terror against India.” He further alleged that this was “not just misplaced empathy — it’s a pattern,” accusing Gogoi of leaning closer to Pakistan than to “patriotic sentiments”.

The Chief Minister promptly weighed in, echoing his cabinet colleague’s attack. Sarma alleged that certain individuals enjoy “every privilege India offers – salary, power and position – yet their loyalty lies across the border”.

In a sharp rebuttal, Gogoi posted a screenshot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2022 message on the same Pakistan floods, in which the PM had expressed sorrow and condolences.

Sarma, without directly naming Gogoi, returned with another post alleging a pattern of behaviour from a “Member of Parliament from Assam” who “fits into all these categories” — referring to individuals who allegedly have formal links with Pakistan’s interior ministry, draw salaries from foreign-funded NGOs and have surrendered their child’s Indian passport.

Earlier, as reported by News18, Sarma has accused Gogoi of having links with the neighbouring country and his British wife Elizabeth Colburn of receiving salary from a Pakistan-based NGO, although no conclusive evidence has been presented in public. Gogoi has dismissed the accusations as “nonsense”, accusing the ruling party of running a smear campaign.

The spat comes amid heightened political temperatures in Assam, with the Lok Sabha elections casting a long shadow over every online exchange. While neither side seems likely to step back, the war of words highlights the increasingly personal and polarised nature of political discourse in the digital age.

A social media spat between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi turned fiery on Tuesday after an old tweet from 2022 resurfaced, triggering fresh political acrimony.

According to a PTI report, State Information and Public Relations Minister Pijush Hazarika reignited the row by sharing a screenshot of Gogoi’s post from August 29, 2022, in which the Jorhat MP had expressed sympathy for the victims of catastrophic floods in Pakistan, even as India celebrated a T20 Asia Cup win over its arch-rival.

“While we celebrate the victory of our Indian cricket team over Pakistan, we must not forget the humanitarian disaster that has claimed 1,000 lives in our neighbouring country... Pakistani people need urgent relief and support,” Gogoi had written then.

Hazarika, quoting the post on X, said the nation was united in celebrating India’s cricket win, but “some chose to divert attention and sympathy toward a country that breeds terror against India.” He further alleged that this was “not just misplaced empathy — it’s a pattern,” accusing Gogoi of leaning closer to Pakistan than to “patriotic sentiments”.

The Chief Minister promptly weighed in, echoing his cabinet colleague’s attack. Sarma alleged that certain individuals enjoy “every privilege India offers – salary, power and position – yet their loyalty lies across the border”.

In a sharp rebuttal, Gogoi posted a screenshot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2022 message on the same Pakistan floods, in which the PM had expressed sorrow and condolences.

Sarma, without directly naming Gogoi, returned with another post alleging a pattern of behaviour from a “Member of Parliament from Assam” who “fits into all these categories” — referring to individuals who allegedly have formal links with Pakistan’s interior ministry, draw salaries from foreign-funded NGOs and have surrendered their child’s Indian passport.

Earlier, as reported by News18, Sarma has accused Gogoi of having links with the neighbouring country and his British wife Elizabeth Colburn of receiving salary from a Pakistan-based NGO, although no conclusive evidence has been presented in public. Gogoi has dismissed the accusations as “nonsense”, accusing the ruling party of running a smear campaign.

The spat comes amid heightened political temperatures in Assam, with the Lok Sabha elections casting a long shadow over every online exchange. While neither side seems likely to step back, the war of words highlights the increasingly personal and polarised nature of political discourse in the digital age.