Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday lashed out at Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over his wife Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi’s alleged relationship with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and said the Congress leader was trying to provide legitimacy to the neighboring country.
Addressing a press conference today, Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi worked in Pakistan from March 18, 2011 to March 17, 2012 and that her family had close links with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.
The Chief Minister of Assam said, “I was in Singapore with a proposal for investment in Assam. At that time this picture had gone viral, in which Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi was seen taking some youth to the Pakistan Embassy. Abdul Basit was Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India at that time. In a way, he tried to give legitimacy to Pakistan. If you look at this picture in the context of the Kargil war, Captain Jintu Gogoi of Assam sacrificed his life for the country. Many others also. Gave up his life for the country.”
Calling it an unprecedented event, Sarma said, “Everyone knows about our relations with Pakistan and the strong support of the people of the country to the Prime Minister during Operation Sindoor. This incident reflects the sentiments of the country. I do not think any other Congress leader would have ever visited Pakistan with such a large delegation.”
He said, “For a long time I thought the picture was photoshopped. But after two-three days, Congress leaders started supporting it. Then I realized that the picture is genuine. After that we started a full investigation as this cannot be an isolated incident.”
He further said that the state cabinet has decided that the matter should be investigated by a central agency. He said the matter will be handed over to the Center as soon as the state receives a positive response.
Sarma said, “After this, Abdul Basit also visited Assam. But ambassadors can come any time, I do not want to talk much about it. After this picture, he also visited Assam. Then we tried to get to the bottom of the matter, and found out that there is something more to it.”
He said, “We investigated and found that Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, wife of Gaurav Gogoi, was working in Pakistan from March 18, 2011 to March 17, 2012. Then we did further investigation on different public sources and social media. We came to know that this family is very closely linked to a man named Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. She worked in Pakistan and during that time she was very close to a Pakistani gentleman named Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. Have arrived.”
The CM said, “These are very serious allegations. When it involves sitting MPs and deputy leaders of the Congress party, the matter becomes even more serious. The SIT of Assam Police investigated and the case was registered at our CID police station. Yesterday, after seeing the report, the state Cabinet expressed the opinion that the matter should be investigated by a central agency, and we have decided to hand over the case to the Home Ministry for further investigation.”
The Chief Minister further said that the matter will be handed over to the Central Government as soon as a positive response is received from the Central Government.
On Saturday, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced handing over the SIT investigation to a central agency.
He also questioned the legitimacy of Ali Tauqeer Shaikh as an environmentalist. The Assam Chief Minister said, “He (Ali Tauqeer Shaikh) was never an environmentalist; he was taking Pakistan’s side on the Indus Water Treaty and other related issues of the current conflict between India and Pakistan.”
Earlier on January 28, Chief Minister Sarma revealed details of the SIT report, which he said allegedly proved Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi’s “direct links with Pakistan”.
The Chief Minister said the SIT report pertains to a case registered against Pakistani nationals Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi for alleged links with Pakistan.
“The SIT has given evidence that three persons – Ali Tauqeer Shaikh, Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi – have direct links with Pakistan. Our cabinet ministers were shocked after watching the presentation,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
The controversy started in February last year, when the Assam Chief Minister had said that Ali Tauqeer Shaikh had visited India at least 18 times. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, while responding to the allegations of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, had called it an attempt to divert attention from the allegations against the Chief Minister.
