Assam Congress Leader Denies CM's Pakistan Allegations, Demands SIT Report Release
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has launched a fierce counterattack against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, vehemently denying allegations of links with Pakistan and demanding the immediate release of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report that he claims exonerates him.
False Claims and Personal Attacks
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Gogoi labeled Sarma's accusations as "completely false" and accused the chief minister of sinking to "unprecedented low levels" by disclosing personal information about his children. "He has proved that he is not the right person to be in the Chief Minister's chair," Gogoi declared, adding that such tactics have brought shame upon Assam.
The Congress leader confirmed that his wife, Elizabeth Colburn, visited Pakistan in 2013 for work-related purposes, with him accompanying her on the 10-day trip. He emphasized that he was never questioned about this visit by any authority until now.
Timing Questioned and Legal Action Threatened
Gogoi questioned the timing of Sarma's allegations, suggesting they were politically motivated. "The main fact behind yesterday's long press conference is the Congress party's rising popularity," he asserted. "If it were truly a matter of national security, why was he sitting idle for the last six months?"
The Congress leader revealed he is exploring legal measures against Sarma for remarks concerning his children and called for Supreme Court intervention through a suo-motu case. "The Supreme Court should take a suo-motu case against it," he demanded.
SIT Report and Counter-Allegations
Gogoi insisted that the SIT report contains no evidence against him and accused Sarma of withholding it for six months. "From the beginning, I have been saying that I will not go against the SIT investigation. I would like the SIT report released. CM is not Chanakya," he stated, referencing the ancient Indian strategist.
In a dramatic escalation, Gogoi accused Sarma of "inciting genocide" against Muslims through his social media videos and alleged that the chief minister was forced to hold the press conference after Congress disclosed that "12,000 bighas of land are held by the CM's family."
Background of Sarma's Allegations
The controversy stems from Sarma's Sunday press conference where he alleged that Gogoi's British wife Elizabeth Colburn and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh shared a "deeper connection." The chief minister claimed intelligence information was secretly passed to Pakistan and that Gogoi underwent "some kind of training" during his 2013 Pakistan visit.
Sarma further alleged that Colburn worked with LEAD Pakistan, an organization run by Sheikh, and continued receiving salary from him while in India, potentially violating Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) rules. He accused Gogoi of failing to declare his wife's Pakistani bank account in election affidavits.
The political confrontation has intensified the already heated atmosphere in Assam politics, with both leaders trading serious allegations that could have significant legal and electoral consequences.
