Gaurav Gogoi Denies Pakistan Link, Says Wife’s Visit Was for Climate Project
Congress MP and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday firmly denied allegations linking him and his wife to Pakistan’s ISI, calling the accusations “ridiculous and baseless”. The remarks come days after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed Gogoi underwent training in Pakistan and had close ties with the country’s intelligence agencies.
Speaking to the media, Gogoi acknowledged visiting Pakistan once in 2013 with his wife, Elizabeth Colburn, who was working on a climate change project in South Asia at the time. He emphasized that the trip was part of a legitimate international assignment and fully documented.
The Congress MP accused the BJP and Sarma of fabricating the narrative for political mileage. “About 14-15 years ago, my wife worked on an international climate change project. She spent some time in Pakistan, and I accompanied her once around 2013,” Gogoi said, adding that “they are turning this into a C-grade Bollywood movie”.
Gogoi pointed out that he has followed all diplomatic procedures since becoming an MP in 2014, including using an official passport. “Everything is on record with the Indian government,” he said.
In a fresh response, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said Gogoi’s admission was only the “beginning” and reiterated his earlier claims that Gogoi received “training” in Pakistan under ISI supervision.
Sarma alleged Gogoi received an official invitation from Pakistan’s Home Department, stayed there for 15 days without informing Indian authorities, and returned to oppose the Rafale deal. The CM claimed Gogoi’s wife made 19 trips between India and Pakistan and had links to the Pakistani Army and ISI.
Sarma stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the matter and promised to release all evidence by September 10, pledging to resign if his claims are proven false.
The allegations have intensified political sparring in Assam, with Gogoi challenging Sarma to face a parallel investigation. “I demand two SITs led by retired judges — one to probe me, another to probe the CM,” Gogoi said.
He accused Sarma of trying to deflect public attention from governance issues and said the BJP’s narrative was a distraction tactic. “He’s attacking my late father and even my children. But I will not be intimidated,” Gogoi said.
The Congress has thrown its weight behind Gogoi, accusing the BJP of targeting political opponents with “fabricated charges”. The BJP, on the other hand, is rallying behind Sarma’s claims, demanding transparency from the opposition leader.
