Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report has alleged “direct links” with Pakistan involving Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi, his wife Elizabeth Gogoi, and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan, Sarma said the findings were presented to the cabinet and described the details as “shocking.” He said the SIT report pertains to a case involving the three individuals and claims to have provided evidence of their alleged connections. The chief minister stated that the cabinet has decided to formally discuss the matter on February 7, when the Home Department will place a memorandum before it.
Sarma also said he has been authorised to disclose the SIT report publicly, “to the extent possible,” and announced that a press conference would be held at 10:30 am on February 8 to share the findings.
Commenting on Gogoi’s absence from Republic Day celebrations, Sarma alleged that Gogoi holds foreign citizenship and has sympathies towards Pakistan. He claimed that members of Gogoi’s family are foreign nationals and described Gogoi as “partially a UK citizen for all practical purposes.” Gogoi has not responded publicly to these allegations at the time of filing this report.
Addressing the issue of political polarisation in the state, Sarma said Assam faces a divide between Assamese people and illegal immigrants, not between religious communities. He stated that the government’s position distinguishes between Assamese residents, including Assamese Muslims, and what he described as Bangladeshi immigrants.
