Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has responded sharply to the BJP’s allegations that his wife had ties to Pakistan and its spy service ISI.
The wife of Mr. Gogoi, Elizabeth Colebourn, was accused by BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Wednesday of having connections to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during her time working with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to the Planning Commission of Pakistan, at the Climate and Knowledge Development Network (CDKN) in Islamabad. According to reports, Ms. Colebourn is still a British citizen.
The Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha responded with a movie allusion and mockingly stated that Mr. Gogoi must be a RAW spy after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made similar accusations without mentioning him. The Assam chief minister was allegedly making the assertions due to cases of land grabbing against his family, the Congress MP added. Claiming that it was a matter of national security, BJP Spokesperson Bhatia posted on X, “Very disturbing and serious facts have come to light that the Deputy Leader of Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi and his wife have links with Pakistan and the ISI. I am saying this with some responsibility that Gaurav Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth Colburn (sic), has links with Tauqir Sheikh (sic), who happens to be the advisor in the Pakistan Planning Commission.”
“This is a serious issue which poses a threat to the national security of the country therefore we wish to ask Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge that Gaurav Gogoi needs to come out and give clear details of Elizabeth’s association with ISI and Pakistan…Why is Elizabeth Colburn working with Pakistani ISI agents,” he asked.
Referring to Mr Gandhi’s remarks on “fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself”, Mr Bhatia continued, “Are they working in furtherance of the statement made by Mr Rahul Gandhi that the fight of Rahul Gandhi and Congress is with the Indian state? Will the Congress start supporting ISI and Pakistan to make their political ends meet… Why is it that the Congress party always turns out to be the best friend of Pakistan and ISI when it comes to conspiring against India?”
Assam Chief Minister Sarma asked whether foreign influences connected to US billionaire George Soros’ “ecosystem” had impacted a significant Assam Congress decision in 2014, without providing specifics or mentioning Mr. Gogoi. In a series of posts on X, Mr Sarma wrote, “Serious questions need to be answered regarding allegations of ISI links, leading young individuals to the Pakistan Embassy for brainwashing and radicalisation, and the refusal to take Indian citizenship for the past 12 years. Additionally, participation in a conversion cartel and receiving funds from external sources, including George Soros, to destabilise national security are grave concerns that cannot be ignored. At some point, accountability will be necessary. Simply deflecting responsibility or attempting to shift the focus onto others will not serve as an easy escape route. The nation deserves transparency and truth”. The chief minister added, “During my interactions with an IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer in Singapore, I learned that officers in the Indian Foreign Service cannot marry a foreign national without prior permission from the Government of India. Moreover, even when permission is granted, it comes with the condition that the spouse must acquire Indian citizenship within six months. Interestingly, this rule does not apply to our lawmakers. However, allowing a foreign spouse of a lawmaker to retain foreign citizenship for 12 years is far too long. Loyalty to the nation must always take precedence over all other considerations.”
Gaurav Gogoi used a movie reference as a comeback. “If Salman Khan’s wife can be an ISI agent like in ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, then I must be a RAW agent too,” Mr Gogoi said. “It is something laughable, the BJP has nothing to do. Someone’s land-grabbing cases are unearthed one after another, defamation cases are being filed one after another. These are baseless allegations without any substance. This shows their weakness and the fact that they are fast losing ground,” he said. “Those who make such allegations must see their family is facing cases of land grabbing and engaged in the debate of setting up a resort. The Assam chief minister is tense that the new BJP president Dilip Saikia will become chief minister in another two or three months. The BJP leadership in New Delhi knows about the land cases of the Sarma family and he is worried about getting replaced. This is a ploy to save himself,” the Congress MP alleged.
