Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma targeted Gaurav Gogoi once again ahead of State Assembly election 2026. Sarma on Sunday held a two-and-a-half-hour press conference alleging that Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and wife Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, worked against the national interests and had links with Pakistan basing upon the investigation reports revealed by SIT and Releasing the much-awaited report.
He presented documents and information about Elizabeth’s employment with a Pakistan-based think tank and questioned the nature of a 2013 visit by Gaurav to Pakistan and also mentioned the Gogois’ children’s nationality and faith.
Addressing the press at Loksewa Bhawan,Sarma maintained that there are “three key players” in the case. Including an MP, his British wife and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. He further stated that the SIT found Sheikh employed Elizabeth Gogoi at LEAD Pakistan in 2011, and within a year, she was transferred to LEAD India.
Her contract stipulated that her work in India would continue to be managed, overseen and approved by Sheikh in his capacity as Asia Regional Director of CDKN, while she worked at LEAD India until 2015, her salary was funded by LEAD Pakistan and that she “sent confidential material to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh”.
He also said she travelled to Islamabad six times while working with the organization.Sarma also attacked Gogoi and his family, claiming that they were anti-nationalists since Gogoi’s two children have opted to hold British passports like their mother, instead of Indian.
Sarma claimed that when working with Lead India, Elizabeth travelled to Islamabad six times, while visiting Pakistan thrice after joining another NGO. “Elizabeth used to visit Pakistan only through the Attari border to keep it a low-key affair, and she never went by flight,” he said.
Sarma further asserted that getting Pakistani funds directly by violating FCRA is not easy, unless there may be “another handler very close” within the UPA government. He also alleged that Elezabeth had a Pakistani bank account to receive salaries there, but she did not reply during questioning if it was closed or still active.
“Many international terror groups are in touch with local youths in Assam and this is nothing new, Most of these groups operate from Pakistan. A former Chief Minister’s son making a secret visit is a matter of concern. which is why we conducted the investigation,” Sarma said.
Meanwhile, Congress Assam President Gaurav Gogoi refuted the allegations made by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma that his wife Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi ‘got salary from Pakistan.’ describing them as “mindless” and “bogus,” via post on social media platform X.
Further stated that, “This is nothing but an attempt to divert public attention from the failures of the BJP. I have done nothing wrong, and if I had, why did the BJP fail to take action against me after coming to power in 2014?” Gogoi said.