Speaking to reporters, Sarma alleged that Gogoi had traveled to Pakistan in the past and maintained contacts there, and claimed that Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colebourn, shared sensitive information with a Pakistani national. He also asserted that she had professional associations with organizations operating in South Asia and that certain financial transactions linked to her work required scrutiny.
The chief minister did not release documentary proof but said the evidence had been formally handed to central authorities for examination. Officials have not indicated whether any investigation has been initiated.
Gogoi, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. He accused Sarma of attempting to divert public attention from questions surrounding land acquisitions allegedly linked to the chief minister’s family. “These claims are baseless and meant to mislead,” Gogoi said, adding that the allegations were damaging and unsupported.
The dispute traces back to public statements and social media posts made over the past year, in which Sarma questioned why Gogoi’s wife retained foreign citizenship for more than a decade after marriage and cited her professional background, including academic training at the London School of Economics and work connected to international institutions such as the United Nations. Sarma alleged that her research activities involved contacts that warranted investigation.
Gogoi countered with a sharp retort, saying that if accusations labeling his wife a foreign agent were taken seriously, he might as well claim to be an intelligence operative himself — a remark intended to mock what he described as the implausibility of the charges.
The controversy has unfolded largely through press conferences, political statements and regional media reports, with both sides trading allegations but no formal legal action announced. Analysts say the dispute reflects rising political tensions in Assam ahead of future electoral contests, where national security narratives often become part of campaign rhetoric.
Until central authorities clarify whether any inquiry is underway, the claims and counterclaims remain unverified, leaving the matter in the realm of political contention rather than established fact.
