Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has alleged that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi may have been "trapped or blackmailed" as part of a larger "anti-India" conspiracy involving his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn.
Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of an event, the Assam CM said the matter had transcended political rivalry and evolved into a national security concern.
"We started discussing this topic about a parliamentarian, but now it has escalated to a much higher level. It is no longer related to Gaurav Gogoi. Now, we have proof or information of an anti-India force actively working behind this. We will decide in today's cabinet," Sarma stated.
Sarma indicated that he would engage with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the matter and consider aligning the state government's investigation with central agencies.
He suggested that Gogoi might be an unwitting participant in a broader scheme.
"Now it looks like Gaurav Gogoi is just an actor in the entire system, he is not the director. Maybe he is trapped unintentionally. So, we will examine the matter with a sympathetic outlook. We don't want to accuse him at this moment," he remarked.
Raising concerns over international involvement, Sarma claimed the Congress leader could have been subjected to external pressures.
"The way London, America, and Islamabad are involved, he may be blackmailed also. Who knows about it? Therefore, the entire subject requires serious deep investigation," he asserted.
The Chief Minister also responded to Gogoi's recent public display of his wife's cultural integration, where she was seen performing Bihu songs in Assamese attire.
"Even tourists coming to Kaziranga National Park would sing a Bihu song if the person is made to wear Mekhela Chadar," Sarma said.
Also read: BJP accuses Gogoi’s wife of 'ISI ties', Congress MP terms it a 'smear'
Sarma further expressed sympathy for Gogoi, asserting that the MP could be a victim of manipulation.
"I have sympathy for Gogoi. Someone must have trapped him. Initially, I thought that he probably committed it. But when I learnt about the entire picture where some big names are involved, I developed sympathy that he has been trapped," he stated.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to present related documents to Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Borah for internal verification.
"Perhaps, the Congress is unaware of the full picture," Sarma said.
He affirmed that once the investigation concludes, relevant findings would be shared with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Prime Minister, and the Home Minister.
"This is a matter of national security," he added.
The controversy intensified last week when Sarma alleged Colburn's links to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, and her purported involvement in radicalisation activities.
He also questioned why she had not sought Indian citizenship despite living in the country for over a decade.
Gogoi, however, has categorically rejected the accusations, calling them "false" and an attempt at "character assassination".
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh echoed this sentiment, describing the claims as "an atrocious smear campaign" and confirming that legal action was being pursued.
The Assam Cabinet on Sunday passed a resolution condemning alleged efforts by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is reportedly connected to the ISI, to destabilise the state. Sarma claimed that Gogoi's wife had previously worked under Sheikh.
Amidst the escalating war of words, Sarma took aim at the Congress ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.
Responding to Jairam Ramesh's assertion that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be defeated, Sarma retorted, "Who will be the former and present Chief Minister will be decided by Assam's people - not by you. I do not wish to remind you of the humiliating defeat Congress has faced since 2014."
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