NEW DELHI: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday refuted Assam chief ministerHimanta Biswa Sarma’s allegations regarding his British wife Elizabeth Colburn’s alleged connection with Pakistan’s ISI, calling it the “plot of a C-grade Bollywood movie.”In his first public statement on the matter, Gogoi clarified that his wife spent only one year in Pakistan in 2013 while working on an international project focused on climate change in South Asia.“About 14–15 years ago, my wife — a well-known expert in public policy — was involved in an international initiative addressing climate change in South Asia. As part of that work, she spent a year in Pakistan and then came to India in 2012–13, where she has been working ever since. In 2015, she took up a new job,” the Congress leader said.“I accompanied her in 2013, about 12 years ago. The chief minister is trying to turn this into a C-grade Bollywood movie with a so-called release date of September 10. This story is bound to be a complete flop. The people of Assam are already aware of the truth,” he added.Gogoi also raised questions about the timing and intent behind the allegations.“Our counter-question is this: if, according to these accusations, my wife or I committed any wrongdoing or illegal act, then who has been in power for the last 11–12 years? What have the central agencies been doing all this time? Everyone knows the level of scrutiny involved when someone crosses a national border — whether entering or exiting,” Gogoi said.“As a leader of the opposition who speaks boldly and openly in Parliament, my biodata is known to everyone,” he added.Reacting to Gogoi’s remarks, chief minister Sarma welcomed the Congress MP’s “admission” and claimed that credible evidence supports allegations of Gogoi’s ties with the Pakistani establishment.“Finally, Congress MP Shri Gaurav Gogoi has admitted that he visited Pakistan. But let us be very clear — this is just the beginning, not the end,” Sarma wrote on X.“What lies ahead is far more serious. There exists every reasonable ground, supported by credible inputs and documented information, to suggest that Shri Gogoi has maintained proximity with the Pakistani establishment. The Government of Assam, committed to transparency and accountability, will make everything public on September 10, once the Special Investigation Team (SIT) concludes its comprehensive inquiry. The people of Assam and the nation deserve the truth — and they shall have it in full,” he added.“But the people will also not forget — nor forgive — the Congress party and Shri Rahul Gandhi for deliberately promoting such a dangerous and compromised individual into the public life of our country,” Sarma added.These statements come days after Sarma alleged that Gogoi visited Pakistan on the “ISI’s invitation” and worked closely with the establishment.Sarma had claimed, “Gaurav Gogoi visited Pakistan on an invitation from the ISI. This is the first time I’m publicly stating this. We have documents to support it. He did not go there for tourism. He went there to receive training.”He added that Gogoi, who is the deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, traveled on a direct invitation from the Pakistani government, calling the visit “dangerous.”“He was working closely with the Pakistan establishment. When does a Home Department issue an invitation? Only to impart training,” Sarma asserted. “An invitation from the foreign affairs department or a university is an entirely different matter. This was not from the foreign ministry or cultural department. He went on a direct invitation from Pakistan’s Home Department,” he claimed.
