‘Scenario Comparable To Sonia Gandhi’: BJP Questions Gaurav Gogoi’s Marriage Over Spouse’s ISI, USAID Hyperlinks – News18

Final Up to date:February 14, 2025, 18:49 IST

The BJP Friday sharpened its assault on Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that whereas his spouse has hyperlinks with ISI, the deputy chief of opposition in Lok Sabha requested questions within the Home on maritime safety on the behest of the Pakistan Excessive Fee.

The Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) on Friday traded weapons at Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi claiming that latter’ spouse, Elizabeth Colburn, has hyperlinks with Pakistan’s spy company ISI.

The saffron camp additional alleged that the Congress legislator requested questions on maritime safety in Lok Sabha on the behest of the Pakistan Excessive Fee.

What BJP Claimed?

Whereas addressing a press convention, BJP Chief Ajay Alok traded weapons on the Jorhat MP and alleged that earlier than marrying Gogoi in 2013, Colburn was an “ISI supporter” and had additionally labored with Pakistan Planning Fee vice chairman Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

“She has additionally labored with Senator Thom, who has shut ties to George Soros. Elizabeth Colburn’s sister-in-law is related to an organisation referred to as Caritas, which is accused of finishing up conversions in India. The organisation receives funding from USAID, which is a part of the deep state,” he stated.

Alok additional demanded Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and deputy chief of opposition in Lok Sabha Gogoi to return out with a clarification on the matter.

“Did he find out about this earlier than marrying her?… Was it a strategic marriage? The Congress should reply the query on this problem. It’s as a result of the Congress has had an anti-national stance because the starting,” Alok stated.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma additionally questioned Gogoi’s go to to West Financial institution asking whether or not the journey was assisted by a US-based NGO.

“Did the Hon’ble MP go to locations like Nablus, Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, Nazareth, and Bethlehem within the West Financial institution with the help of a US-based NGO? We search particulars about this NGO as a result of critical nationwide safety considerations. We’ve a legit proper to ask this query,” he stated.

Gogoi Requested Questions On Behest Of Pak Embassy, Claims BJP

The BJP spokesperson alleged that Gogoi had visited the Pakistan Excessive Fee after he was elected to Lok Sabha within the 2014 elections with out searching for permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker, House Ministry and different associated ministries. After his go to, Gogoi’s organisation ’Coverage for Youth’ wrote an article in a newspaper accusing BSF personnel of misbehaving with “unlawful ladies Bangladeshi intruders”.

Gogoi additionally requested questions in Lok Sabha equivalent to ’what’s the standing of coastal maritime safety? What number of radars have been put in alongside the Indian shoreline and what number of extra radars will we (the federal government) need to set up there?’ the BJP spokesperson stated, including that it’s on file.

“Asking these questions after getting them from the Pakistan embassy. What does it point out? With whom was he sharing this info?” Alok requested.

Gogoi Hits Again, Threatens Authorized Motion

The Jorhat MP lambasted the saffron camp and threatened to take authorized motion in opposition to the celebration. “The BJP has gone to excessive steps to defame me and my household. Their allegations are malicious and baseless. I will likely be taking the suitable authorized motion,” he stated in a publish on X.

Earlier on Thursday, CM Sarma raised questions on a gathering Gogoi held a decade in the past with the then Pakistan Excessive Commissioner to India, and linked it to his spouse Elizabeth Gogoi.

In a publish on X, Sarma stated, “In 2015, the Pakistani Excessive Commissioner to India, Mr. Abdul Basit, invited a first-term Member of Parliament (MP) and his startup, Coverage for Youth, to debate India-Pakistan relations…Quickly after, his startup printed an article in The Hindu criticizing the Border Safety Power’s dealing with of unlawful Bangladeshi immigrants. A more in-depth examination of his parliamentary questions revealed a rising give attention to delicate protection issues…Curiously, these developments occurred instantly after his marriage to a British citizen with an expert background that raises additional questions.”

Persevering with to focus on Elizabeth, Sarma stated she had up to now “hung out in Pakistan, employed by a company broadly believed to be a entrance for the Inter-Companies Intelligence (ISI).”

Dismissing the allegations as “laughable”, Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday stated, “If my spouse is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I’m an R&AW agent of India. I don’t thoughts if a household in opposition to whom there are numerous instances and several other allegations makes accusations in opposition to me. The Assam chief minister is making these allegations solely to divert consideration from the allegations in opposition to him.”

Who’s Elizabeth Gogoi?

Elizabeth Gogoi, born Elizabeth Colebourn within the UK, holds a Grasp’s diploma in Worldwide Political Economic system from the London College of Economics (LSE) and married Gaurav Gogoi in 2013.

She beforehand labored with the Local weather and Improvement Information Community (CDKN). In accordance with her writer profile on the CDKN web site, the place her final article dates again to 2014, she coordinated the organisation’s work in India and Nepal.

“Elizabeth joined CDKN in March 2011 with a background in local weather change and growth policy-making and analysis. This included working within the European Parliament on the negotiations of the 2009 EU Local weather Change Package deal, and as a researcher within the Abroad Improvement Institute (ODI) EU growth cooperation. She additionally has expertise working within the US Senate, UN Secretariat and for NGOs in Tanzania and South Africa,” the web site reads.

(With inputs from companies)