Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gaurav Gogoi
NEW DELHI: The Assam cabinet on Saturday decided to refer the case linked to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan connections to the ministry of home affairs, with chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma saying the matter involves national security and cannot be probed further by state agencies.The decision came as Sarma alleged that a Pakistan-based firm had given a job to Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, later transferring her to India, with her salary allegedly paid by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. The chief minister said the Special Investigation Team has reached its limit and central agencies are required to take the probe forward.
Case involves national security, says Assam CM
Briefing reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Sarma said the cabinet had decided to hand over the matter to the Centre.
“The Assam government had constituted an SIT to inquire into the alleged anti-India conspiracy of 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,” he said.“The SIT report and the case registered on the basis of which the probe was conducted will be forwarded to the MHA. It can use any of its investigating agencies to take it forward,” Sarma added. He said the cabinet was of the view that the case “involves national security and is not a personal one, with three players involved”.
Limits of state-level probe
Sarma said the SIT had obtained sensitive material but could not proceed further without assistance from central agencies.“Sensitive information and materials have been obtained by the SIT from various sources,” he said, adding that “help from the Interpol is required. Sensitive information from the central government and Parliament is required”.“We have limitations in our probe. Yet, within these limits, what we have gathered is very important. When it reaches the NIA or IB or CBI, they will take it ahead,” Sarma said.“What we have done is just 10 per cent, 90 per cent is yet to be found out,” he added.
Allegations linked to Pakistan visit
Without naming Gogoi, Sarma 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, headed Congress governments in Assam from 2001 to 2016.The chief minister claimed that the MP’s visit to Pakistan was not shared with the central government and alleged that he had gone off social media during his stay.Sarma also said there was proof of one of the persons involved travelling to Pakistan between 2012 and 2016, but added that the Assam Police could not collect telephonic evidence.“The government of Assam has conducted a very good investigation. But, it is not enough as foreign nationals are involved,” he said.
SIT report to be made public
The SIT had submitted its report to Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, on September 10, the date initially set by the chief minister for producing evidence to back his allegations.After multiple delays, Sarma said that “information that is not confidential will be revealed at a press conference” on February 8, with the cabinet authorising him to do so.He also did not rule out the “angle of religious conversion”, but refused to share details.
Probe not about politics, says Sarma
Earlier, Sarma had said the investigation was being conducted purely for national security reasons.“This investigation is for the sake of national security. Its impact on politics is secondary,” he said, adding that a Pakistani national and a British citizen had “central roles” in the case.The SIT was formed to probe alleged interference by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who was claimed to have links with Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, in India’s internal affairs.
Gogoi rejects charges
Meanwhile, Gogoi had earlier denied the allegations, calling Sarma’s remarks “ridiculous, baseless, insane and nonsense” and accusing the chief minister of behaving like an “IT cell troll” without facts.In response to claims involving his wife, Gogoi said, “If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am a R&AW agent of India.”He has alleged that the accusations are politically motivated and aimed at diverting attention from allegations against the chief minister. Go to Source