Guwahati:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered Sunday the registration of a case against a Pakistani subject, which is assumed to have ties with the wife of the Gaurav Gogoi congress, for “trying to interfere with the State and the country .
Mr. Sarma also said that Elizabeth Colburn, Mr. Gogoi's wife, will also be investigated about her alleged ties with Pakistan and her intelligence service, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Moreover, she will also be investigated for her alleged participation in the Lok Sabha election campaigns, even though she is a British citizen.
The former Kaliaboror constituency was won twice by Mr. Gogoi, from 2014 to 2024.
The developments that took place during a cabinet meeting came a day after Mr Gogoi threatened to approach the court about Mr Sarma and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusations against his wife.
There was no immediate response from the congress leader to Mr Sarma's last comment, but earlier in the day he said that he does not want to be involved in “dirty and unfounded” politics. In the past he had also rejected the charges as “laughable and entertaining”.
Mr. Sarma, after the cabinet meeting, said: “Multiple news items, messages on social media and other information in the public domain have surfaced with regard to certain comments from a Pakistan National, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, aimed at disturbing the common harmony in Assam.
The main minister also claimed that an assessment of the social media activities and information from Mr. Sheikh is available in the public domain that he has been in contact with Mrs. Colburn.
“Apart from his engagement with Pakistan's government, Ali Sheikh also founded Lead Pakistan, a non-profit organization that worked in the field of climate change. Elizabeth Gogoi was an integral part of the Head Pakistan during her time in Islamabad. Both Sheikh and Elizabeth Gogoi have been part of the global climate action group called the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) that is active in both India and Pakistan, “he said.
In the light of these facts and in view of the historical attempts of Pakistani state and non-state actors to destabilize Assam, the state government took the attempts of Mr Sheikh to interfere with the domestic Affairs of the State and India with the largest Ernst, he added.
A controversy broke out on 12 February when BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that Mrs. Colburn shared ties with the ISI, while working with the climate and knowledge development network in Islamabad under Mr. Sheikh, a former adviser to the Planistan planning committee.
Mr. Sarma, without appointing Mr. Gogoi, also lifted the same accusations on the same day, which initiated a sharp answer from the congress leader. He attacked a film reference. “If Salman Khan's wife can be an ISI agent like in 'Tiger Zinda Hai', then I also have to be a rough agent,” Gogoi said.
On Saturday, Mr. Sarma said that a police business is likely to be registered and that a special investigation team will be formed to investigate the accusations against the wife of the opposition leader.
The minister President claimed that after Mrs. Colburn Mr. Gogoi had married, Mr Sheikh gained access to the Chief Minister's office.
He also claimed that Mr. Gogoi's visit to the Pakistani embassy was attached. “In the Lok Sabha, the Member of Parliament asked questions about nuclear radars, uranium mines in Meghalaya and other such sensitive things. What was the need to know such things by an Assam Member of Parliament? I hope he and his wife will work together in the probe, Otherwise they will be called, “he said.
Mr. Sarma also claimed that Mrs. Colburn campaign was conducting for her husband prior to two Lok Sabha elections in the Kaliaboror constituency.
“How can a British national participation in Indian elections? She was directly involved in the election process and we can see old TV clippings. That means she has violated the visa standards. If so, the Indian government should examine it and its visa Withdraw, “he said.
The main minister said that when he meets the Minister of the Interior Amit Shah next time, he will discuss how the proactivity of the state government can be synchronized with central agencies.
It seems that Mr. Gogoi is just an actor, and not the director, in the whole system, Mr. Sarma said. “Maybe he is unintentionally stuck. So we will investigate the case with a sympathetic view. We don't want to accuse him right now,” he said.
“The way London, America and Islamabad are involved, can he also be blackmailed, who knows it? That's why the entire subject requires serious deep research,” he added.
Mr. Sarma said that he will submit “all documents” to mention Bhupen Borah Congrespesident so that they can verify the facts themselves. “Perhaps the congress is not aware of the full image,” he said.
“When the case is investigated, I will write a letter to Borah to inform him about the background and the reasons behind our decision to pursue the case. The letter I will give to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Minister of The Interior (Amit Shah (Amit Shah) will also be given to Inc Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Borah. This is a matter of national security, “he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Gogoi said that the congress instead of becoming involved in the “dirty and unfounded” politics, the congress is working on giving a new economy, social order, education and health policy to Assam. “I have no objection to that if he (Mr. Sarma) only wants to spend it next 12 months. I am grateful for that,” said the congress leader.
