Guwahati: Amid the ongoing controversy regarding the alleged links between Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, and Pakistan’s ISI, Gogoi has accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of using the issue to divert attention from his fear of losing the 2026 state assembly elections.
Sarma and the BJP have been targeting Gogoi, who is the deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, over the alleged connection between Colburn and Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
This comes after a series of social media comments by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is said to have made remarks about Assam and India’s internal matters.
In response, Gogoi took to X (formerly Twitter), claiming, “The BJP government in Assam can carry out their investigation, but every Assamese person knows the real reason behind these recent developments.”
He added, “Himanta Biswa Sarma is afraid of losing his position and will soon have to face justice from the people of Assam after the 2026 elections.”
On Monday, the Assam Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate Sheikh, who is an advisor to the Pakistan Planning Commission and reportedly a former colleague of Colburn.
Sheikh has been charged under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his comments.
Despite the focus on Sheikh, the Assam government decided not to file any charges against Gogoi or his wife. Instead, the government instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file an FIR against Sheikh.
Additionally, the state government announced that it would write to the Centre to investigate Colburn’s involvement in Lok Sabha election campaigns in the Kaliabor constituency, where Gogoi has been elected twice, even though she is a British citizen.
The issue took a new turn after Sarma expressed sympathy for Gogoi, suggesting that he might have been “trapped or blackmailed” in a broader “anti-India” conspiracy.
The chief minister’s remarks appeared to soften his previous stance, where he had labelled Gogoi as the antagonist.
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Gogoi, however, rejected the allegations, describing them as “false” and “laughable.”
He also refuted claims that his marriage to a British citizen had influenced his parliamentary questions on sensitive defense matters, an accusation levelled by Sarma.
The BJP’s ongoing accusations of links between Colburn and Pakistan’s ISI have been strongly rejected by Gogoi, who has expressed his intent to take legal action against the BJP for defaming him and his family.
“The BJP has gone to great lengths to defame us, and we will take appropriate legal steps,” Gogoi said.
As the political drama continues, both the Congress and BJP are intensifying their battle, with the outcome of the 2026 assembly elections looming large over Assam’s political landscape.
