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Himanta Biswa Sarma hypocrisy

Himanta Biswa Sarma Hypocrisy: Selective Patriotism And The Politics Of Citizenship In Assam

September 13, 2025

When allegations of foreign citizenship are deployed as political weapons, democracy suffers. For the past couple of months, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi’s wife and children of not being Indian citizens, claimed the family draws a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO, and questioned what Gogoi was doing in Pakistan for 15 days.

This is not mere debate. It is character assassination masquerading as patriotism. Worse, it is selective. Because when similar situations arise with powerful figures in the ruling establishment, there is deafening silence.

Take, for instance, Vivek Doval, son of India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. He has publicly acknowledged that he is a UK citizen and holds Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.

While this has been reported in Indian media, it has not generated anything like the vitriol that Sarma is directing at Gaurav Gogoi.

Another case is Dhruva Jaishankar, son of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He is based in the United States, working for policy think-tanks including ORF America.

Whether he holds US citizenship has not been confirmed in credible public sources. Yet, unlike in Gogoi’s case, there is no political outrage, no demands for accountability, no accusations of disloyalty.

So what we have is an obvious double standard: when the criticism is directed at leaders outside the ruling coalition, accusations fly of disloyalty, foreign ties, and worse.

But when similar questions might apply to the families of sitting ministers with immense influence over foreign policy or national security, the public scrutiny is muted, the media interest dampened, and the governing establishment silent.

The importance of citizenship is not in itself trivial. Citizenship carries legal rights, responsibilities, and sometimes questions of allegiance, particularly in politics.

But when accusations are unsubstantiated, veiled, or selectively enforced, they corrode trust, stir resentments, and distort public discourse.

Some facts are clear:

  • Sarma has alleged that Gaurav Gogoi’s children are not Indian citizens, that his wife receives money from a Pakistan-based NGO, and that Gogoi himself spent 15 days in Pakistan.

  • Gogoi has countered by saying the allegations are a smear campaign, clarified that his wife had worked in Pakistan more than a decade ago, and confirmed that he visited once during that period.

  • Vivek Doval has acknowledged being a British citizen with OCI status.

  • There is no public evidence confirming Dhruva Jaishankar’s citizenship status, though he resides and works in the United States.

What these facts make clear is that the issue isn’t about citizenship per se, but about who is allowed to be questioned, when, and with what consequences. The CM’s rhetoric suggests that only those outside the ruling circle deserve scrutiny, while others are shielded.

This is dangerous for several reasons:

  1. Erosion of Rule of Law — Accusations without evidence, or threats of public shaming, contravene basic principles of fairness. If proof exists, it must be produced in court, not paraded for political gain.

  2. Politicisation of Identity — Citizenship and nationality become tools to brand opponents unpatriotic, skewing public perception and deepening polarisation.

  3. Selective Homeland Security — If foreign citizenship or income is a valid concern, the same standard must apply to all, regardless of party or position. Otherwise, it is nothing more than hypocrisy.

  4. Damage to Administrative Dignity — A Chief Minister entrusted with governance should not fuel baseless allegations. Doing so erodes public trust and demeans the office.

Patriotism should not be a partisan tool. If there is valid evidence against Gaurav Gogoi or any public figure, it should be presented clearly, legally, and without theatrics. But the louder question remains: why do allegations of foreign citizenship provoke outrage against the opposition while they are ignored when linked to those in power?

To salvage integrity in politics, we must demand consistent accountability. Let no individual be immune. Let no accusation go unchallenged. Let the standard of evidence be high. And let public office be treated with the dignity it deserves.

ALSO READ | Gaurav Gogoi As Assam’s CM In 2026? A Political Possibility Or Wishful Thinking?

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