Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ramped up the political heat on January 9, stating that documents allegedly linking state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi to Pakistan would be made public before the end of January, heightening tensions just ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Speaking at a government event in Goreswar, Sarma revealed that officials were in the process of finalizing the documents and confirmed they would be released before February. “The documents regarding Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged connections with Pakistan are almost ready. Our officers are working on it,” Sarma said. The Chief Minister added that the release had been delayed after the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg in September, though he did not explain any link between Garg’s passing and the delay.
Sarma also launched a pointed attack on Gogoi’s family background, particularly questioning his eligibility for the role of Chief Minister. “If he wants to be the Chief Minister of Assam, how can he, with a wife and two children who aren’t Indian citizens, be trusted? How will government officers communicate with him?” Sarma asked.
He further emphasized that the people of Assam would not allow such individuals to take up leadership roles, using the phrase “bor ghor,” a term referring to the sacred space of the Chief Minister’s office.
When pressed about whether the allegations could affect Gogoi’s election prospects in the upcoming polls, Sarma framed the issue as a national security concern. “Pakistan is our enemy. The issue isn’t just about elections but about the possibility of someone having links with that country,” he said.
The BJP and the state government have repeatedly accused Gogoi of having ties to Pakistan, especially regarding his wife’s alleged connections with Pakistan’s intelligence agency. An SIT (Special Investigation Team) has been set up to investigate claims that Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, with alleged ties to Gogoi’s British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, was involved in the matter.
Sarma has accused Gogoi of visiting Pakistan at the invitation of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for training, claims that Gogoi has firmly denied. He has also accused Colburn of collecting sensitive government documents, including Intelligence Bureau reports, for a Pakistani climate lobby.
Gogoi has dismissed all charges as politically motivated, labeling Sarma’s comments as “ridiculous, baseless, insane, and nonsense.” He further accused Sarma of acting like an “IT cell troll,” spreading unfounded rumors without evidence.
