Assam Orders Probe Against Pak National “Linked” To Congress MP’s Wife

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday ordered the registration of a case towards a Pakistani nationwide, who’s believed to have hyperlinks with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s spouse, for “making an attempt to intervene in home issues” of the state and the nation. 

Mr Sarma additionally stated that Elizabeth Colburn, Mr Gogoi’s spouse, may even be probed over her alleged hyperlinks with Pakistan and its intelligence company, Inter-Companies Intelligence (ISI). Moreover, she may even be investigated over her alleged participation within the Lok Sabha election campaigns regardless of being a British citizen.

The erstwhile Kaliabor constituency was received by Mr Gogoi twice, from 2014 until 2024. 

The developments that befell throughout a cupboard assembly got here a day after Mr Gogoi threatened to strategy courtroom over Mr Sarma and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP)’s accusations towards his spouse. 

There was no speedy response from the Congress chief on Mr Sarma’s newest remark however earlier within the day, he stated he doesn’t need to get entangled in “soiled and baseless” politics. He had additionally rejected the costs as “laughable and entertaining” prior to now.

Addressing a press convention after the cupboard assembly, Mr Sarma stated: “A number of information experiences, social media posts and different info within the public area have surfaced concerning sure feedback made by a Pakistan nationwide, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, geared toward disrupting communal concord in Assam. Given the broader nationwide safety implications of this problem, significantly in Assam, the state cupboard has directed the DGP to register a case towards Sheikh underneath applicable provisions of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and different related legal guidelines.” 

The Chief Minister additionally alleged that an evaluation of Mr Sheikh’s social media exercise and data accessible within the public area exhibits he has been involved with Ms Colburn.

“Aside from his engagements with Authorities of Pakistan, Ali Sheikh has additionally based LEAD Pakistan, a non-profit organisation working within the subject of local weather change. Elizabeth Gogoi was an integral a part of LEAD Pakistan throughout her time spent in Islamabad. Each Sheikh and Elizabeth Gogoi have been part of world local weather motion group known as the Local weather and Growth Data Community (CDKN) which operates in each India and Pakistan,” he stated. 

In gentle of those info and given the historic makes an attempt of Pakistani state and non-state actors to destabilise Assam, the state authorities took Mr Sheikh’s makes an attempt to intervene within the home issues of the state and India with utmost seriousness, he added. 

An issue erupted on February 12 when BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Ms Colburn shared ties with the ISI whereas she labored with the Local weather and Data Growth Community in Islamabad underneath Mr Sheikh, a former advisor to the Planning Fee of Pakistan.

Mr Sarma, with out naming Mr Gogoi, additionally raised comparable accusations the identical day, prompting a pointy retort from the Congress chief. He counter attacked with a film reference. “If Salman Khan’s spouse could be an ISI agent like in ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, then I have to be a RAW agent too,” Mr Gogoi stated. 

On Saturday, Mr Sarma stated a police case is more likely to be registered and a Particular Investigation Crew be constituted to probe into the allegations towards the opposition chief’s spouse.

The Chief Minister alleged that after Ms Colburn married Mr Gogoi, Mr Sheikh should have gained entry to the Chief Minister’s Workplace. 

He additionally alleged that Mr Gogoi’s go to to the Pakistan embassy has been confirmed. “Within the Lok Sabha, the MP requested questions on nuclear radars, uranium mines in Meghalaya and different such delicate issues. What was the necessity to know such issues by an Assam MP? I hope he and his spouse will cooperate within the probe, in any other case they are going to be summoned,” he stated. 

Mr Sarma additionally alleged that Ms Colburn campaigned for her husband prior to 2 Lok Sabha elections in Kaliabor constituency.

“How may a British nationwide participate in Indian elections? She was immediately concerned with the election course of and we will see previous TV clippings. Which means she violated visa norms. In that case, the Indian authorities ought to look at it and revoke her visa,” he stated.

The Chief Minister stated when he meets Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah the subsequent time, he’ll talk about how the state authorities’s proactiveness could be synergised with central companies.

It appears to be like like Mr Gogoi is simply an actor, and never the director, in all the system, Mr Sarma stated. “Perhaps, he’s trapped unintentionally. So, we are going to look at the matter with a sympathetic outlook. We do not need to accuse him at this second,” he stated. 

“The best way London, America and Islamabad are concerned, he could also be blackmailed additionally, who is aware of about it? Due to this fact, all the topic requires severe deep investigation,” he added.

Mr Sarma stated he’ll submit “all paperwork” to state Congress President Bhupen Borah, in order that they’ll confirm the info themselves. “Maybe, the Congress is unaware of the total image,” he stated. 

“When the case is investigated, I’ll write a letter to Borah to tell him concerning the background and the explanations behind our choice to pursue the matter. The letter I’ll give to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Dwelling Minister (Amit Shah) may even be given to INC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Borah. It is a matter of nationwide safety,” he stated. 

Earlier within the day, Mr Gogoi stated that as an alternative of getting concerned in “soiled and baseless” politics, the Congress is engaged on give a brand new financial system, social order, training and well being coverage to Assam. “I’ve no objection to that if he (Mr Sarma) desires to spend the subsequent 12 months like this solely. I’m grateful for that,” the Congress chief stated.