Political Tensions Rise in Assam: Chief Minister Accuses Congress Leader of Espionage
Political Clash in Assam
Guwahati, May 28: In a heated exchange, Gaurav Gogoi, the newly appointed head of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), criticized the ruling government for its repeated allegations linking him to Pakistan. In response, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the media following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, targeting the Jorhat MP.
Sarma accused Gogoi and his spouse, Elizabeth Colburn, of being involved in a 'climate lobby' that allegedly sways foreign investments in India.
Making serious allegations, Sarma claimed that Colburn had been 'snooping' on Indian intelligence agencies and had connections within the Intelligence Bureau (IB), which she used to influence foreign investments.
“His wife monitored the IB for climate activists. In a report, she extensively referenced an IB document. How did she obtain that document? She must have someone in the IB providing her with information, which she used to advise on investment decisions in India,” he stated.
Sarma asserted that he possesses evidence dating back to 2017-18 to support his claims. "I have disclosed only a fraction of the entire situation. With the evidence I hold, the people of Assam will not forgive Gogoi,” he remarked.
He dismissed Gogoi's acknowledgment of a trip to Pakistan in 2013 for his wife, asserting that the visit was unrelated to her.
“His trip to Pakistan was for training purposes. It had nothing to do with his wife, who was in India at that time,” Sarma clarified.
“On September 10, I will disclose their connections with the Pakistan Army and the Interior Department of Pakistan, and how they are involved in this for a 'climate lobby',” he added.
In response to Gogoi's earlier press conference, Sarma emphasized that he could have leveraged this issue for political gain ahead of the 2026 elections but chose to make it public due to its implications for national security.
“Elections will come and go. We have faced elections against his father; if not Gaurav Gogoi, another candidate will challenge us. This is a critical issue concerning national security,” the Chief Minister concluded.