Assam CM Sarma says Gaurav Gogoi asked questions ‘to help Pak Army'. Now see the data
Escalating his attack on senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi Tuesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma questioned him over a visit to Pakistan, and said Gogoi asked questions in Parliament 'indirectly to help the Pakistan Army'.
Gogoi countered by accusing Sarma of 'indulging in petty politics' at a time when the 'country is united and supporting the Central government in their efforts against Pakistan'.
A look at Gogoi's Parliament record, where he is currently the Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, shows that he has raised a range of questions, dealing with trade, foreign affairs, the Pathankot airbase attack, visa norms with Bangladesh, agriculture, and wildlife in Assam, to Internet shutdowns. The government has been responsive to his questions.
As per PRS Legislative Research, which has details compiled up to April 1, Gogoi, a three-time MP, asked 307 questions in the 16th Lok Sabha, 245 in the 17th and, in the one year of the current Lok Sabha, has asked 72 questions so far.
His questions have ranked higher than the national and state average in all three Lok Sabha terms.
FIRST TERM
In February 2025, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok alleged at a press conference that, in 2015, while he was a first-time MP, Gogoi had visited the Pakistan High Commission and later, asked questions related to coastal and maritime security, the radars installed along the coastline, and the upgrade of coastal security. 'Posing these questions after a meeting in the Pakistan Embassy, what does it indicate?' Alok said.
As per PRS data, on March 17, 2017 – two years after the alleged visit to the Pakistan High Commission – Gogoi sought a reply from the Defence Ministry on 'whether the existing coastal surveillance system was adequate to guard the entire coastline of the country; if so, the details thereof along with the total number of coastal radar stations…; whether the government has recently decided to expand the coastal radar surveillance network… and if so, the details thereof;… and the other steps taken… for strengthening coastal security infrastructure of the country'.
In its reply, the Defence Ministry said that the government had taken several initiatives post the s26/11 Mumbai terror attack to strengthen coastal security, mentioning a three-tier 'Coastal Security Mechanism' including the Navy, Coast Guard and State Marine Police. It also shared that the security now included a chain of coastal radars and other systems.
Earlier, on April 29, 2016, Gogoi asked 'whether the Government permitted (a) Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan to probe the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot'. The attack had transpired on January 2, 2016, and Gogoi sought the outcome of the JIT investigation.
The government replied that a JIT from Pakistan visited India between March 27, 2016, and April 1, 2016, and that the 'objective of the visit was to share information on our investigation into the Pathankot Air Base Attack, obtain a brief from the JIT on Pakistan's investigations and to discuss follow up actions'.
The government reply added: 'The interaction with JIT was held in accordance with Terms of Reference mutually agreed on the basis of reciprocity and extant legal provisions… It does not seem feasible to indicate any time line at this stage for completion of the investigation in this case.'
On March 23, 2017, Gogoi asked 'whether the Government maintains data of the students who are residents of Kashmir and pursuing Higher Education in Kashmir or outside Kashmir'. The Ministry of Human Resource Development said it didn't maintain such data.
The first question that Gogoi asked on being elected to Parliament from Kaliabor in Assam, on July 23, 2014, was on visa norms, and came in the wake of easing of the same for certain categories of visitors from Bangladesh. The Congress MP sought to know 'whether the matter of relaxed visa norms for certain categories of Bangladeshi citizens has been discussed at the bilateral level' and whether 'any opposition has been voiced against relaxing visa norms for Bangladeshi citizens'.
Immigration from Bangladesh is a contentious issue in Assam, with Sarma in particular claiming a 'threat' to the indigenous population of the state because of the same.
In its reply, the government said that the matter of visa norms had been discussed at various levels with Bangladesh, and following that, Revised Travel Arrangements were signed in January 2013 to ease visa procedures. However, the government said, there was no proposal 'for grant of visa-free entry to Bangladeshi nationals'.
In December 2019, Gogoi asked a question about 'the size and growth of the e-commerce sector in the country and its impact on traditional business'.
Among issues concerning Assam which he raised was one towards the end of his first term, in January 2019, when he wanted to know whether the government proposed any measures to increase the minimum wage of tea plantation workers in the state. Jorhat is a big centre for tea cultivation in Assam, with plantation workers living in dismal conditions due to low wages and stagnant demand.
SECOND TERM
In his second term, Gogoi introduced six private members' Bills – nearly three times the national average per MP of 2.3 private Bills, and much more than the Assam average of 0.8.
On March 23, 2021, Gogoi asked 'whether the Government is aware of the Chinese construction along the Indo-China border' and sought further details on it.
Minister of State, External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, replied that the 'government is aware that China is developing infrastructure in the border regions opposite India in Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions', and added: 'The Government gives careful and special attention to improvement of infrastructure for the development of border areas, in order to facilitate the economic development of these areas as also to meet India's strategic and security requirements.'
In April 2023, Gogoi asked about the trade deficit between India and China, requesting data on goods and services and year-wise details of the trade with China since 2014.
In December 2023, he asked about the status of India's diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. In his reply on December 15, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said: 'India's approach to Afghanistan continues to be guided by its historical relations, friendship with its people and relevant UN Resolutions… India's stance in regard to recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is in consonance with that of the international community.'
Towards the fag end of his second term as MP, in February 2024, Gogoi asked about the steps taken by the government 'to address the barriers associated with access to healthcare services for members of the transgender community in the country'.
THIRD TERM
Re-elected to Parliament in last year's general elections, Gogoi, in August 2024, sought a reply from Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Internet shutdowns, seeking district-wise, month-wise details of the same 'under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules'.
Over the past year, Gogoi has also asked questions related to climate change, labour, agriculture and trade.
On April 1, days before the Budget session was to end, Gogoi asked about the current status of the India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, and wanted to know its 'anticipated impact' on Indian industries, exports and employment.
On Tuesday, India finalised the FTA agreement, which will eliminate the 2%-18% tariffs imposed by the UK on footwear, textiles, automobile components, electrical machinery, minerals, and base metals, among other goods, imported from India.
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