Jorhat, Assam : In a sharp rebuttal to allegations made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday dismissed charges of having questionable links with Pakistan as “false, baseless and bogus,” asserting they were politically motivated ahead of the Assembly elections due in March-April.
The controversy erupted a day after CM Sarma claimed that Gogoi and his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, had connections with Pakistan, citing a report by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Gogoi, addressing a detailed press conference, challenged the Chief Minister and the SIT to provide evidence and questioned why he was never summoned for questioning if his activities were a threat to national security.
Gogoi Challenges SIT’s Silence
Gogoi pointed out that he had publicly offered to cooperate with the SIT after it was formed, even volunteering to visit their office. “Why did the SIT not deem it fit to question me if my activities were a threat to national security?” he asked. He also raised questions about the timing of the allegations, noting that the CM had sat on the SIT report for six months. “The CM says he delayed disclosure due to singer Zubeen Garg’s death on September 19. But he was supposed to disclose it on September 10. Both the SIT and Sarma have no proof,” Gogoi stated.
Visit to Pakistan in 2013: Gogoi’s Explanation
Responding to Sarma’s query about his 10-day visit to Pakistan in 2013, Gogoi clarified that he traveled to see the places where his wife had worked with the NGO Lead Pakistan for about a year. “I wanted to see how a girl from England spent a year in a country like Pakistan, where she stayed, where she shopped,” he explained. He added that he also visited Lahore and Karachi to see the archaeological site of Takshashila, for which he had obtained a valid visa.
Gogoi refuted claims in the SIT report that visa norms were violated. “After becoming an MP, I deposited my passport with the government, as MPs are given diplomatic passports. All details of my Pakistan visit are in that passport,” he said.
Refuting Allegations About Elizabeth Colburn
Gogoi strongly denied allegations that his wife still holds a bank account in Pakistan. “It’s a lie. She closed the account after shifting to India,” he asserted. He also countered the claim that Elizabeth received a salary from Pakistan for a year, stating she was paid only for one month during her relocation.
He explained that Lead Pakistan and Lead India were funded by the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), an international organization working on climate change. “CDKN had worked in Gujarat when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister,” Gogoi noted, highlighting the NGO’s legitimate international ties.
“Secret Report” Based on Public Information
On the allegation that Elizabeth had shared a “secret report” based on Intelligence Bureau (IB) inputs, Gogoi clarified that her report was solely based on media reports already in the public domain.
Political Motive Ahead of Elections
Gogoi concluded that the allegations were part of a tactical move by the ruling party ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. “This is nothing but a desperate attempt to divert attention from real issues and tarnish my image,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s office has yet to respond to Gogoi’s rebuttal. The controversy is likely to intensify as Assam heads into election season, with both sides digging in for a protracted political battle.
