Mon Feb 17 11:12:00 UTC 2025: ## Assam CM Faces Backlash Over Probe Into Congress MP’s Wife’s Alleged ISI Links
**GUWAHATI, INDIA** – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s order for a probe into the alleged links between Elizabeth Coleburn, wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has sparked a major political row. Gogoi has vehemently accused Sarma of a politically motivated distraction tactic aimed at deflecting attention from the upcoming state elections.
The controversy began last week when the BJP alleged that Coleburn, a British citizen, had ties to ISI while working in Islamabad with Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to the Pakistani Planning Commission. Sarma, a prominent BJP figure, announced an investigation into Coleburn’s activities, including her participation in election campaigns despite her foreign citizenship, and called for the revocation of her visa. He also suggested Gogoi might have been unwittingly involved.
Gogoi, however, dismissed the allegations as baseless and accused Sarma of changing his narrative daily, initially portraying Gogoi as a culprit and later as a victim. He asserted that the BJP’s actions stem from fear of losing the next election to the Congress party. Gogoi further stated he is considering legal action against Sarma.
Sarma, meanwhile, described the allegations as a serious threat to national security, highlighting Coleburn and Sheikh’s involvement in the Climate and Knowledge Development Network (CDKN) and alleging Sheikh’s access to the Chief Minister’s Office after Coleburn’s marriage to Gogoi. An FIR has been registered against Sheikh.
The clash underscores rising political tensions in Assam as the state prepares for elections. The BJP’s accusations and Sarma’s subsequent actions are viewed by the Congress as a blatant attempt to smear their party and influence the upcoming electoral landscape. The investigation’s outcome and its potential impact on the election remain to be seen.
First Piper 