‘Are They Indians?’ Himanta Sarma Quips Congress MP Over Wife, Children's ‘Pakistan Links’; Gaurav Gogoi Responds

Last Updated:April 27, 2025, 17:37 IST

The Assam CM had earlier alleged that Gogoi's wife Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi receives salary from a Pakistan-based NGO and she and their children are not Indian citizens.

Assam CM Himanta Sarma and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi. (File)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi locked horns in a fierce exchange of allegations and counter-charges on social media over the latter’s family’s alleged links with Pakistan.

Sarma, in a veiled attack, asked Gogoi whether he had stayed in Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days and his wife gets a salary from a Pakistani NGO.

The Assam CM had earlier alleged that Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi receives salary from a Pakistan-based NGO and she and their children are not Indian citizens.

Without naming Gogoi, he posted questions for him. He also questioned the citizenship status of the MP’s wife and their children.

“Questions for the Hon’ble Member of Parliament from the Congress Party: Did you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, could you kindly clarify the purpose of your visit? Is it true that your wife continues to receive a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing and working in India? If so, may we ask why a Pakistan-based organization is paying a salary for activities conducted in India? What is the citizenship status of your wife and your two children? Are they Indian citizens, or do they hold the citizenship of any other country? Many more questions will follow," he said in a post on X.

Soon the Congress MP hit back at Sarma questioning if the Chief Minister was ready for questions about his wife and children.

“Will you resign if you fail to prove your allegations of me and my wife being agents of an enemy country? Will you take questions on your own children and wife? Will the state police arrest those linked to coal mafia who make are ravaging the hills of Assam and making crores of undeclared money? Waiting for the SIT report to be submitted," he said on X.

In his response to the Congress MP, Sarma said, “I would like to clarify that neither I nor my son and daughter have ever visited Pakistan. Furthermore, my wife and our entire family would never even think of accepting any salary or financial support from Pakistan."

“All members of my family, including my wife, son, and daughter, are Indian citizens. None of my children has ever surrendered or renounced Indian citizenship. Now, it is your turn to answer. In the coming days, sufficient material will be placed in the public domain exposing the connections between the concerned Congress Member of Parliament and Pakistan. Wait for 10th September 2025," he added.

Earlier in February, Sarma had raised questions about a meeting Gaurav Gogoi held 10 years ago with the then Pakistan High Commissioner to India.

The BJP had accused 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 saffron camp had further alleged that Gogoi had visited the Pakistan High Commission after he was elected to Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections without seeking permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Ministry and other related ministries. After his visit, Gogoi’s organisation ’Policy for Youth’ wrote an article in a newspaper accusing BSF personnel of misbehaving with “illegal women Bangladeshi intruders".

Sarma’s personal attack on the Congress MP and his wife, citing his alleged Pakistan links, comes after the Pahalgam terror carnage that left 26 individuals, mostly tourists dead.

Who Is Elizabeth Gogoi?

Elizabeth Gogoi, born Elizabeth Colebourn in the UK, holds a Master’s degree in Political Economy from the London School of Economics (LSE) and married Gaurav Gogoi in 2013.

She previously worked with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). According to her author profile on the CDKN website, where her last article dates back to 2014, she coordinated the organisation’s work in India and Nepal.

Last month, the chief minister had said the state government might seek help from agencies like Interpol in investigating the alleged interference of Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is claimed to have links with Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, in India’s internal affairs.

Gogoi had accused the BJP of resorting to such “baseless allegations" as it has "no issue to raise".

Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India

News politics ‘Are They Indians?’ Himanta Sarma Quips Congress MP Over Wife, Children's ‘Pakistan Links’; Gaurav Gogoi Responds