'Laughable and entertaining': Gogoi's jibe at BJP claims over his wife's 'alleged' links with Pakistan and ISI

The Congress MP alleged that the BJP had carried out a similar "smear campaign" against him and his family ahead of last year's Lok Sabha polls.

New Delhi/Guwahati: The BJP on Wednesday accused Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi's wife of having links with Pakistan and the ISI, a charge rejected by the deputy opposition leader in the Lok Sabha as "laughable and entertaining".

The BJP resorted to such "baseless allegations" as it has no issue to raise, Gogoi hit back.

He alleged that the BJP had carried out a similar "smear campaign" against him and his family ahead of last year's Lok Sabha polls and the people, in reply, elected him from Jorhat parliamentary constituency.

Gogoi's reaction came after BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged, "Some serious concerning facts related to national security have come to light. Links of Elizabeth Colburn, the wife of deputy leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, with Pakistan Planning Commission Advisor Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and the ISI, have come to light."

This is "extremely concerning" as it relates to national security, he said and demanded the Congress leadership and Gogoi issue a clarification.

The question becomes even more serious as Gogoi's wife is a foreign citizen and the organisation for which she works is funded by George Soros, Bhatia alleged.

"It is expected that Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge ji and Gaurav Gogoi will render a clarification about their relations with Pakistan and the ISI," he told PTI.

The BJP leader also wondered if Gogoi should continue as the deputy leader of opposition after this due to his access to "sensitive information relating to security issues" while holding such a post.

Bhatia also targeted Gandhi, the opposition leader in the Sabha, and asked if Gogoi and his wife were carrying forward his "plan" to weaken India.

"A few days ago, when Rahul Gandhi said that his fight was against the Indian state, the question is whether Gaurav Gogoi and Elizabeth are working with Pakistan and the ISI to carry forward Rahul Gandhi's plan to weaken India," he said.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X, "Serious questions need to be answered regarding allegations of ISI links, leading young individuals to the Pakistan embassy for brainwashing and radicalisation, and the refusal to take Indian citizenship for the past 12 years."

"Additionally, participation in a conversion cartel and receiving funds from external sources, including George Soros, to destabilise national security are grave concerns that cannot be ignored," he added.

"At some point, accountability will be necessary. Simply deflecting responsibility or attempting to shift the focus onto others will not serve as an easy escape route. The nation deserves transparency and truth," Sarma added. In another post in the microblogging site, the Chief Minister said, ''sooner or later, it will be known how foreign powers, led by George Soros’ ecosystem, influenced a major decision of Assam Congress in 2014. Hopefully, the truth will emerge in due course''. Hitting back, Gogoi termed Bhatia's charge as "laughable and entertaining", and said the BJP was resorting to levelling such baseless allegations against him and his family because it had no issues to raise.

"The BJP has no issue and resorts to these baseless allegations. It conducted the same smear campaign against me and my family before the Lok Sabha polls last year and the people of Jorhat parliamentary constituency replied (to it) by electing me," the Congress leader said.

Referring to Sarma's post, Gogoi alleged that various land scams by the chief minister's family had been reported to BJP leaders in Delhi. "Fearing that he might lose his chair, he is trying to divert attention by launching a smear campaign against me and my family," the Congress leader said. "The assembly election is still a year away but it seems that the BJP is on a shaky ground with people losing faith in the party due to which it has launched this attack on me," Gogoi added.

The people of Assam knows the ''truth and they will be give a befitting reply when the time comes'', he added.

The Assam unit of the BJP also issued a statement demanding a "proper response" and a "detailed clarification" from Gogoi as his wife Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi is alleged to have worked in Islamabad under Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and under Tauqir Sheikh, a key advisor to Pakistan’s Planning Commission.

"Gogoi, as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, holds a crucial political responsibility in shaping national policies and representing public aspirations. Given the alleged links between his wife and ISI, it is necessary to scrutinise both his personal and political associations", the statement issued by party spokesperson Kishore Upadhyay said.

This situation raises serious doubts about his ability to effectively perform his duties as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and these are grave concerns that cannot be ignored, he alleged.

''The allegations against Gogoi’s wife are extremely serious and a thorough legal investigation and necessary action are required'', he added.