Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again taken a jibe at Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over allegations of Pakistan links and his wife’s alleged connections with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.
During a briefing to the press after a cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Sarma recently alleged that a firm based in Pakistan employed Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colburn, and later facilitated her transfer to India, claiming her salary was paid by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. Sarma emphasized that the existing Special Investigation Team had reached its investigative limits, necessitating the involvement of central agencies.
Gogoi responded with a veiled post on X, calling CM Sarma’s remarks as “mindless and bogus points” and describing the chief minister’s press conference “C grade cinema”.
Meanwhile, the Assam cabinet has resolved to submit the case involving Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the matter poses concerns related to national security and cannot be further investigated by state agencies.
Decision for Central Oversight
Sarma indicated that the cabinet concluded the case warranted central attention due to its seriousness. “The Assam government had initiated an SIT to look into the alleged anti-India activities reportedly involving Sheikh in collaboration with a British citizen and a Member of Parliament,” he remarked. He added, “In light of the gravity of this situation, we decided to involve the MHA.”
The SIT’s findings along with the case documentation will be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which can deploy its investigative agencies to further the inquiry.
Limits of State-Level Investigations
Sarma noted that while the SIT had procured sensitive materials, it lacked the capacity to advance without assistance from national bodies. “We have acquired critical information and materials, but help from organizations like Interpol is essential,” he stated. The Chief Minister indicated that the investigation had uncovered significant evidence but acknowledged that a substantial amount remains undiscovered.
“Our efforts can be regarded as only the beginning, with much more left to uncover,” Sarma explained.
Historical Allegations and Investigations
Without directly naming Gogoi, Sarma mentioned that an MP from Assam had traveled to Pakistan during the time when his father was Chief Minister. The late Tarun Gogoi governed Assam from 2001 to 2016. He argued that the MP’s trip was not reported to the central government and claimed the individual had ceased social media activity during that period.
Sarma asserted that evidence exists indicating one associated party traveled to Pakistan between 2012 and 2016, although Assam Police were unable to secure telephonic evidence. He reiterated that while the Assam government has conducted a thorough investigation, issues involving foreign nationals require additional resources.
Future of the SIT Report
The SIT submitted its report to Sarma, who manages the Home portfolio, on September 10. Initially, the Chief Minister had set that date for presenting evidence in support of his allegations. Following several delays, he announced that “non-confidential information will be disclosed in a press conference” scheduled for February 8, with cabinet authorization for him to do so.
While he did not dismiss the potential aspect of religious conversion, he refrained from providing additional details.
Denial of Allegations by Gaurav Gogoi
Reacting to the accusations, Gogoi has previously labeled Sarma’s statements as “ridiculous, baseless, insane, and nonsense,” alleging that the Chief Minister behaved similarly to an “IT cell troll” devoid of factual basis. In response to implications regarding his wife, Gogoi remarked, “If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am a R&AW agent of India.” He contended that the allegations are politically motivated, aimed at distracting from issues surrounding the Chief Minister.
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