Thu Feb 13 06:25:49 UTC 2025: ## Assam CM Accuses Congress MP of Raising Sensitive Defence Questions After Marriage to British Citizen

**GUWAHATI, ASSAM –** Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scathing attack on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday, alleging that Gogoi’s parliamentary inquiries into sensitive defence matters followed his marriage to a British citizen. Sarma’s accusations, made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), followed similar claims by BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Wednesday. Bhatia alleged links between Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colburn, and Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Sarma claimed Gogoi, before his marriage, had visited the Pakistani High Commission in 2015 with a group of young Indians, despite India’s official protest against the commission’s interference in internal affairs. He further alleged that Colburn’s past employment with an American senator known for pro-Pakistan ties and a subsequent stint with a suspected Pakistani ISI front organization raise serious national security concerns. The Chief Minister pointed to a shift in Gogoi’s parliamentary questions towards sensitive defence topics, including Coast Guard installations and arms factories, as further evidence of questionable intent.

Gogoi vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “laughable and entertaining,” and suggesting they were a diversionary tactic by Sarma due to allegations of land scams against the Chief Minister’s family. He stated that similar smear campaigns had been used against him before last year’s Lok Sabha elections, and that the people had ultimately re-elected him. Gogoi also highlighted the upcoming Assam assembly elections and pledged to focus on issues such as unemployment and inflation.

The BJP’s accusations come amid heightened political tensions in Assam, with state assembly elections slated for next year. The Congress has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated attempts to deflect from the BJP’s own shortcomings. The controversy has sparked intense debate and promises to further escalate the political discourse in the state leading up to the elections.

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