Involves national security: Assam sends Gaurav Gogoi's 'Pak links' case to Centre

The Assam Cabinet has decided to refer the case concerning Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged links with Pakistan to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday following a Cabinet meeting.

Addressing a press briefing, Sarma said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe what he termed an “anti-India conspiracy” had submitted its report, and that the Cabinet had concluded the matter had national security implications.

“The Assam government had constituted an SIT to inquire into the alleged anti-India conspiracy of Ali Tauqeer Sheikh in connivance with a British citizen and an MP. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the matter, it was decided to hand it over to the MHA,” Sarma said.

The decision marks a significant escalation in Sarma’s attack on Gogoi, turning it into a major political flashpoint months ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. Sarma has alleged that the Congress has links to Pakistan, claiming that Gogoi’s wife previously worked with an NGO purportedly connected to Pakistani interests and that the MP had visited Pakistan in the past, which, according to him, raises concerns over national security.

“If an MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, has any connection with Pakistan, then it is highly unfortunate. I am here to raise this before you. I was informed that Gaurav Gogoi had taken a delegation to the office of the Pakistan High Commission. He met the then Pakistan High Commissioner, Abdul Basit. I do not recall any leader taking a delegation along to meet the Pakistan High Commissioner,” he said.

Sarma added that the SIT report and the FIR registered in the case would be forwarded to the Centre. "We haven't questioned sitting MP Gaurav Gogoi about Pak links. Left it to the Centre, showing respect to his position. If harsh steps like arresting Gaurav Gogoi are taken now, I will be accused of doing politics before the Assam assembly elections," he added.

CHARGES OF THREE KEY PLAYERS

According to the Chief Minister, the Cabinet was of the view that the case was “not a personal matter” but one involving three key players -- “an MP, his British wife, and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.”

The state government had formed the SIT to probe alleged interference in India’s internal affairs by Sheikh, who, according to the Chief Minister, had links with Gogoi’s British wife, Elizabeth Colebourn. The SIT submitted its findings to Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, on the September 10 deadline earlier set by him to present evidence supporting his allegations.

Sarma said some information that is “not confidential” would be made public at a press conference on Sunday, with the Cabinet authorising him to do so.

Continuing his charges, the Chief Minister said, “I can at least confirm that an honourable MP from Assam visited Pakistan when his father was the Chief Minister.” Gogoi’s father, the late Tarun Gogoi, led the Congress governments in Assam from 2001 to 2016.

He also alleged that the MP had taken a delegation to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and met then Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit. “I don’t remember any leader taking a delegation along with him to the Pakistan High Commission,” Sarma said.

Sarma further claimed that the MP did not inform the central government about a visit to Pakistan and had “blacked out” from social media during his stay there.

CLAIMS REGARDING WIFE’S EMPLOYMENT

The Chief Minister alleged that Gogoi’s wife worked in Pakistan between March 2011 and March 2012 and was in professional contact with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, whom he described as holding advisory roles in Pakistan’s planning and disaster management bodies.

According to Sarma, the SIT found that Colebourn had professional associations with Pakistan-based organisations, including LEAD Pakistan and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), and had co-authored papers with Sheikh. He also claimed that Sheikh deleted social media posts tagging her after the Assam Police began its investigation.

Sarma further alleged that Sheikh had visited India multiple times during the UPA government’s tenure but stopped visiting after the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 2014.

He also claimed that the SIT had gathered “sensitive information and materials” but that the state police lacked the authority to access telephonic and certain classified records, which could only be obtained by central agencies.

GOGOI REJECTS ALLEGATIONS

Gaurav Gogoi has dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous, baseless, insane and nonsense,” accusing the Chief Minister of behaving like an “IT cell troll” without presenting facts.

The Congress leader has not yet responded to the latest decision to refer the case to the MHA.

The development marks a sharp escalation in the political confrontation between the ruling BJP in Assam and the state Congress leadership. Sarma also alleged that the Congress headquarters, Rajeev Bhawan in Guwahati, had become a base for “anti-Assamese activities,” and announced plans to file defamation cases against senior Congress leaders over remarks made against him and his family.

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