Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sought clarification from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over a series of allegations and suspicions raised by the BJP. Sarma’s comments come after Gogoi threatened legal action against the BJP for spreading what he termed as false allegations involving his wife. In a press statement on February 15, Sarma emphasized that the government is not making accusations but merely seeking answers to specific questions. “It’s irrelevant whether he files a case or not. We are not blaming anyone. We just want to know the facts,” Sarma asserted.
The chief minister listed a series of questions:
Is it true that Gogoi’s wife worked in Pakistan?
Has his wife, Elizabeth Colburn, taken Indian citizenship?
Did Gogoi visit Pakistan, and if so, did he seek approval from the Ministry of External Affairs and follow diplomatic debriefing procedures?
Sarma highlighted that he has always debriefed the Ministry of External Affairs after his visits to Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, stating that it is standard diplomatic protocol. “Has Gaurav Gogoi done the same after visiting Pakistan?” Sarma asked. He further raised questions about the individuals accompanying Gogoi during his visit to the Pakistan Embassy and whether the issue of citizenship had been addressed. In a cryptic comment, Sarma remarked, “How can ISI and RAW stay in the same house?” He dismissed Gogoi’s alleged ideology that the two rival agencies could coexist peacefully. “ISI means Pakistan and RAW means India,” Sarma said. “If you are with RAW, why are you with ISI, and vice versa?”
Sarma also revealed that the government had obtained information about Gogoi visiting Palestine in 2009, including locations such as Ramallah and Bethlehem. He questioned the involvement of an American NGO that had allegedly facilitated the trip. Additionally, Sarma claimed that George Soros, an American billionaire often accused of being anti-Indian, had donated ₹1 crore to Gogoi’s organization, Farm 2 Food. “We don’t have all the details yet, but there will be no compromise on national security,” he stated.
The chief minister confirmed that the matter will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on February 16. “He has to end these controversies himself. We cannot do it for him,” Sarma said. He concluded by urging Gogoi to address the issues directly, noting, “A few short tweets can solve all the problems.”
