Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gaurav Gogoi
NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday once again hit out at Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over allegations of Pakistan links and his wife’s alleged connections with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.Meanwhile, Gogoi hit back in a veiled post on X, attacking Sarma for what he described as “mindless and bogus points” and calling the chief minister’s press conference “C grade cinema”.
The political war of words escalated after the Assam cabinet decided to refer the case linked to Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan connections to the ministry of home affairs, with Sarma saying the matter involves national security and cannot be probed further by state agencies.The decision came as Sarma alleged that a Pakistan-based firm had given a job to Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, later transferring her to India, with her salary allegedly paid by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. The chief minister said the Special Investigation Team has reached a point beyond which it cannot proceed without central assistance.Responding through a veiled X post, Gogoi wrote, “I pity the journalists from Delhi and Assam who had to suffer the most flop press conference of the century. This was worse than a C grade cinema. Most mindless and bogus points offered by the so called political shrewd Chief Minister. This #SuperFlop is in contrast to our #XomoyParivartanYatra which has been a hit in uncovering the 12,000 bighas of land occupied by the chief minister and his family members”.
Case involves national security, says Assam CM
Briefing reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Sarma said the cabinet had decided to hand over the matter to the Centre.“The Assam government had constituted an SIT to inquire into the alleged anti-India conspiracy of Sheikh in connivance with a British citizen and an MP. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the matter, it was decided to hand it over to the MHA,” he said.“The SIT report and the case registered on the basis of which the probe was conducted will be forwarded to the MHA. It can use any of its investigating agencies to take it forward,” Sarma added.He said the cabinet was of the view that the case “involves national security and is not a personal one, with three players involved”.
Limits of state-level probe
Sarma said the SIT had obtained sensitive material but could not proceed further without assistance from central agencies.“Sensitive information and materials have been obtained by the SIT from various sources,” he said, adding that “help from the Interpol is required. Sensitive information from the central government and Parliament is required”.“We have limitations in our probe. Yet, within these limits, what we have gathered is very important. When it reaches the NIA or IB or CBI, they will take it ahead,” Sarma said.“What we have done is just 10 per cent, 90 per cent is yet to be found out,” he added.
Allegations linked to Pakistan visit
Without naming Gogoi, Sarma said, “I can at least confirm that an honourable MP from Assam visited Pakistan when his father was the chief minister.”Gogoi’s father, the late Tarun Gogoi, headed Congress governments in Assam from 2001 to 2016.The chief minister claimed that the MP’s visit to Pakistan was not shared with the central government and alleged that he had gone off social media during the visit.Sarma also said there was proof that one of the persons involved travelled to Pakistan between 2012 and 2016, but added that the Assam Police could not collect telephonic evidence.“The government of Assam has conducted a very good investigation. But, it is not enough as foreign nationals are involved,” he said.
SIT report to be made public
The SIT submitted its report to Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, on September 10, the date initially set by the chief minister for producing evidence to back his allegations.After multiple delays, Sarma said that “information that is not confidential will be revealed at a press conference” on February 8, with the cabinet authorising him to do so.He also did not rule out the “angle of religious conversion”, though he refused to share details.
Probe not about politics, says Sarma
Earlier, Sarma said the investigation was being conducted purely for national security reasons.“This investigation is for the sake of national security. Its impact on politics is secondary,” he said, adding that a Pakistani national and a British citizen had “central roles” in the case.The SIT was formed to probe alleged interference by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who was claimed to have links with Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, in India’s internal affairs.
‘Visited Pakistan in 2013, suspected training’: Himanta
At a separate press conference, Sarma accused Gogoi of visiting Pakistan clandestinely in 2013 without informing authorities and claimed it was suspected that he had undergone “some kind of training there”.He also alleged that Gogoi’s wife had collected information about India while working at a firm and passed it on to Pakistan, claiming she had visited Pakistan nine times while working in two Indian organisations.“We believe a deeper connection among Gaurav, his wife, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. We recommend a probe by a central agency,” Sarma said.A Pakistani firm gave Elizabeth a job and later transferred her to India, though her salary was paid by Sheikh, he claimed.
Gogoi rejects charges
Gogoi has denied all allegations, calling Sarma’s remarks “ridiculous, baseless, insane and nonsense” and accusing the chief minister of behaving like an “IT cell troll” without facts.In response to claims involving his wife, Gogoi said, “If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am a R&AW agent of India.”He has alleged that the accusations are politically motivated and aimed at diverting attention from allegations against the chief minister.
