The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday stepped up its political attack on state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that he was not seen participating in Republic Day celebrations in the state. In a post on social media platform X, the BJP’s Assam unit claimed that Gogoi could not be “located” on one of the country’s most important national occasions. The party said that while there is no legal requirement for any political leader to take part in Republic Day events, the absence of the state Congress president on such a day raised questions. The BJP added that it would be “happy to be proven wrong” and said that even a single photograph of Gogoi unfurling the national flag would settle the matter.
The allegation was echoed by Assam minister Pijush Hazarika, who also took to X to support the BJP’s claim. Hazarika said his sources within the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee had confirmed that Gogoi did not attend Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati. His statement further intensified the political exchange between the two parties. These fresh remarks come at a time when the BJP has been running a sustained campaign against Gogoi. In recent months, senior BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, have repeatedly accused Gogoi of having alleged links with Pakistan. The BJP has claimed that such associations raise serious concerns about his political intentions and public conduct.
The Indian National Congress, however, has strongly rejected all allegations. Congress leaders have described the claims as false, baseless, and politically motivated. According to the party, the BJP is using nationalism as a political tool to attack the opposition and divert attention from issues related to governance and public welfare in Assam.