Assam CM slams Gaurav Gogoi over 'missile strike' remarks

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that like his wife and two children, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi may become a citizen of a different country. Sarma said SIT constituted to probe the alleged nexus of Gaurav Gogoi's wife with establishment in Pakistan will submit its report in September.

The Assam government might hand over the investigation regarding the alleged attempt of Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh to destabilize the state, to CBI or NIA.

Sarma has been attacking Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over his wife Elizabeth Colburn's alleged connection with the Pakistan spy agency ISI.


Sarma said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) instituted by the state government on this has done a commendable job. “However, the SIT has some limitations. The SIT cannot access electronic evidence like telephonic interactions beyond two years. But NIA can access upto 2011, 2010. So I have asked the SIT to submit their report to me by September 10".

“The SIT was given time till September 10. I have told them that we are not going to give them an extension. They will submit the report to me after September 10 depending on my availability and then we will discuss this in the cabinet whether to refer it to the NIA, CBI or the Ministry of Home Affairs,” said the Chief Minister.

Assam police registered a case against Pakistani National Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and others under multiple sections.

The Chief Minister had earlier claimed that although Ali Tauqueer Sheikh, a Pakistani national, works for a climate action group named Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN), most of his works are related to Assam and India's internal politics--more related to internal political affairs of Assam and India and less related to climate.

Sarma had alleged that Gogoi's wife had "good relations" with the Pakistan Army and even the MP had visited Pakistan "in personal capacity and not official capacity" and stayed there for 15 days.

The Chief minister claimed that Colburn had travelled 19 times between India and Pakistan, and Pakistan Army officials had accompanied her in the neighbouring country.

"We have evidence that he (Gogoi) had gone through the Wagah-Attari border," he had said.

Sarma on Thursday said the people of Assam were ''ashamed of his Gogoi’s speech in Lok Sabha where he commented on the Indian army''.

''He went to the extent of asking why the missile was targeted from a distance and not from a close range. He is such a big scientist that instead of congratulating the Indian Air Force for using such highly modern technology, he questioned our armed forces. Gogoi's speech in the Lok Sabha has proved that he never loved his country, the CM said.

"His children and wife are foreign citizens. In the near future; he will also change his citizenship. When three members of his family are not Indians, he remains an Indian temporarily,'' he added.

Sarma said his constituency comprises Jorhat and Sibsagar, and both the districts have played a significant role in the country's independence struggle and the MP of such an area is now the hero of Pakistan. This is a matter of shame for us,'' he alleged.

Gogoi had earlier claimed that the allegations are like a C-grade Bollywood film with the release date set for September 10, and it is going to flop totally as the people of Assam understand everything.

Gogoi had accused Sarma of indulging in politics by dragging his family, wife and children into the matter.