Wed Feb 19 03:46:59 UTC 2025: ## Assam CM Denies Witch Hunt Amidst Controversy Surrounding Congress MP’s Wife

**Guwahati, Assam – February 19, 2025** – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has denied accusations of a witch hunt against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, over alleged links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). While the Assam government has initiated investigations into the matter, focusing on a Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is a former colleague of Colburn, the CM insists his actions are solely driven by national security concerns.

Following a flurry of accusations from the BJP, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe Sheikh’s social media activity, which violated several sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Though the Assam Cabinet decided against filing charges against Gogoi or Colburn, the government plans to write to the central government to investigate Colburn’s involvement in Lok Sabha campaigns while remaining a British citizen.

Sarma initially leveled serious accusations against Gogoi, including allegations of his wife’s alleged ISI links, alleged involvement in radicalization, and Gogoi’s raising of sensitive defence issues in Parliament after his marriage. However, he later expressed sympathy for Gogoi, suggesting he might be a victim of blackmail within a larger anti-India conspiracy.

Gogoi has vehemently denied all allegations, labeling them as “laughable” and vowing to take legal action against the BJP for defamation. He also attributed the government’s actions to the BJP’s fear of losing the 2026 Assembly elections. Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi has also criticized the Chief Minister’s actions as “skullduggery politics.” The controversy continues to unfold, with significant political ramifications for Assam.

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