Assam Chief Minister Intensifies Allegations Against Opposition Leader Over Pakistan Connections
In a dramatic escalation of political hostilities, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday presented what he described as evidence from a special investigation team alleging that Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and his wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, maintained questionable connections with Pakistan-based entities. The allegations, which Sarma detailed during a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour press conference in Guwahati, have sparked a fierce political confrontation between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in the northeastern state.
Detailed Allegations Presented by Chief Minister
Chief Minister Sarma shared documents and information purportedly gathered by the Special Investigation Team formed last year to probe his earlier allegations. The SIT findings focused on Elizabeth Gogoi's employment history with Pakistan-based organizations and raised questions about Gaurav Gogoi's 2013 visit to Pakistan. Sarma specifically highlighted Elizabeth's work with LEAD Pakistan, a think tank operating under the Climate and Development Network, where she was employed in 2011 before being transferred to LEAD India.
According to the Chief Minister's presentation, the investigation revealed that Elizabeth Gogoi's contract stipulated her work in India would continue to be managed and overseen by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, the Regional Director for Asia of CDKN and CEO of LEAD Pakistan. Sarma asserted that her salary during her tenure at LEAD India was funded by LEAD Pakistan, and she allegedly traveled to Islamabad six times while working with the organization.
Congress Leader's Forceful Rebuttal
Even before the press conference concluded, Gaurav Gogoi issued a scathing response, dismissing the allegations as "worse than a C-grade cinema" and characterizing them as "mindless and bogus points offered by the so-called politically shrewd Chief Minister." The Congress leader launched a counterattack, referencing his party's ongoing campaign accusing Sarma and his family of extensive land-grabbing involving more than 12,000 bighas across Assam.
Gogoi's response highlighted the increasingly bitter nature of political discourse in Assam, where personal allegations have become central to the power struggle between the BJP government and Congress opposition.
Investigation Background and Legal Framework
The controversy traces back to February last year when Assam Police's Crime Investigation Department registered a case against Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and "unknown others" under multiple legal provisions:
- Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to abetment from outside India for offences within India
- Acts endangering India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity
- Criminal conspiracy charges
- Imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration
- Provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
A four-member Special Investigation Team led by CID Special DGP M P Gupta was constituted to investigate these allegations. On September 10 last year, Sarma announced the SIT had submitted its report to the Cabinet, though he delayed making findings public until Sunday, citing the mass outpouring of grief following cultural icon Zubeen Garg's death on September 19.
Specific Allegations Regarding Pakistan Connections
During his detailed presentation, Chief Minister Sarma made several specific claims based on the SIT report:
- Ali Tauqeer Sheikh's Profile: The investigation allegedly found Sheikh holds "anti-India" views and was permitted to visit India 13 times during the UPA government era. Sheikh has held multiple advisory roles for Pakistan government task forces.
- Employment Arrangements: Elizabeth Gogoi's employment at LEAD Pakistan in 2011 and subsequent transfer to LEAD India, with her work continuing under Sheikh's supervision.
- Document Sharing: Allegations that Elizabeth Gogoi "sent confidential material to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh" while working at LEAD India.
- Strategic Report: Reference to a 2014 report allegedly sent by Elizabeth to Sheikh containing strategies for CDKN to work on programs in India, which Sarma claimed referenced "secret Intelligence Bureau information" and contained material that could help Pakistan-based actors navigate Indian governance structures.
Escalation to Central Authorities
In a significant development, Sarma announced that the Assam Cabinet decided on Saturday to refer the case to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for central investigating agencies to take forward. This move potentially elevates the political controversy to a national level and could involve central intelligence and investigative bodies in examining the allegations.
The Chief Minister also mentioned the Gogois' children's nationality and faith during his presentation, adding personal dimensions to the already charged political allegations. These latest developments represent a substantial escalation in the ongoing political battle between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gaurav Gogoi, whose rivalry has become increasingly personal and bitter over recent years.
The allegations and counter-allegations have created a major political storm in Assam, with implications that extend beyond state politics to questions of national security and India-Pakistan relations. As the case moves to central agencies, the controversy is likely to remain a focal point of political discourse in the lead-up to future elections.
