Gaurav Gogoi Took 90 Youths to Pakistan to Radicalise Them: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Stepping up his attack on Congress MP, Mr Sarma told reporters that two to three youths have confessed that they were misled—they were told they would visit various embassies, but were instead taken to the Pakistan Embassy.

The chief minister further alleged that the participants were never clearly informed about their itinerary or destination, and that the entire exercise was kept shrouded in secrecy. He also claimed that Mr Gogoi raised pro-Pakistani questions during interactions.

"There can be no compromise with Pakistan. We will not tolerate any attempt to misguide or endanger our youth in the name of diplomacy or exposure visits,” said Mr Sarma.

The Chief Minister has been targeting Mr Gogoi, who represents eastern Assam’s Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency, and his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, since February, alleging that Ms Colburn Gogoi worked for an organisation with links to the Inter-Services Intelligence, the Pakistani spy agency.

Asserting that security agencies have got hard-evidence to substantiate charges, Mr Sarma said that action would be taken against the Congress MP after the evidence arrived from Pakistan and England.

It is significant that controversy surrounding Mr Gogoi and his wife started in February this year when the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, alleged, “...deputy leader of Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi’s wife has links with Pakistan and the ISI… His wife, Elizabeth Colburn, has links with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who happens to be a Pakistan Planning Commission advisor. This is a serious issue which poses a threat to national security.”

Asserting that it is a big crime, Mr Sarma pointed out that Mr Gogoi not only travelled to Pakistan but also met a Pakistani army officer. “Stern action will be taken,” he said, adding that documentation from Pakistan and the UK is being collected to support his claims. “I have to show proof to the people, or else they won’t believe me.”

The BJP leader reiterated that he would wait until September 10 before making further disclosures, suggesting more revelations are on the way. “There is a deeper story,” said Mr Sarma, referring to the citizenship status of Mr Gogoi’s children. “The people of Assam and India will come to know.”

The Assam chief minister also announced that he would meet the AICC president soon with all the evidence and ask him to clarify the stand of the Congress party on Mr Gohoi’s Pakistan connections.