The Bharatiya Janata Party has levelled serious allegations against Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colbourn, asserting that she has connections with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence . Gogoi, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has vehemently denied these claims, labelling them as “laughable and entertaining.”
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia stated that Colbourn’s professional associations are cause for concern regarding national security. He alleged that Colbourn worked with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to Pakistan’s Planning Commission, during her tenure at the Climate and Knowledge Development Network in Islamabad. Bhatia emphasized the gravity of these associations, given Colbourn’s foreign citizenship and her organization’s alleged funding by George Soros. He demanded clarifications from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Gaurav Gogoi on this matter.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed these concerns, suggesting that there are serious questions about Colbourn’s alleged links to the ISI. He further insinuated that Gogoi and his wife might be collaborating with foreign entities to undermine India’s national security.
In response, Gaurav Gogoi dismissed the allegations as baseless, asserting that the BJP is resorting to such tactics due to a lack of substantive issues. He referenced previous smear campaigns against him and his family, noting that the electorate had reposed faith in him despite such attacks. Gogoi also countered the allegations by stating, “If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am a R&AW agent of India,” highlighting the absurdity of the claims.
The Congress party has rallied behind Gogoi, condemning the BJP’s allegations as a diversionary tactic aimed at deflecting attention from pressing issues. Party leaders have criticized the BJP for engaging in personal attacks instead of addressing substantive policy matters.
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