Assam Politics has taken a serious turn after the Bharatiya Janata Party ((BJP) levelled allegations that Gaurav Gogoi's wife ties with Pakistan secret service ISI. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has said that Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi's wife Elizabeth Coleburn has links with ISI. She was working with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to Pakistan's Planning Commission. She was associated with the Climate and Knowledge Development Network (CDKN) in Islamabad. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also made allegations against Gogoi's wife without naming her. Gogoi has also reacted to these allegations. Now, the question arises who is Gaurav Gogoi's wife or who is Elizabeth Colburn? Below is all about Elizabeth Colburn-
Who is Elizabeth Coleburn?
The Week reported that Assam Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi met Elizabeth Coleburn when they were doing an internship together at the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Secretariat in 2010. Gogoi who is the son of former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi married British-origin Elizabeth Coleburn in 2013 in New Delhi. Gogoi and Elizabeth Coleburn have two children, a son and a daughter.
Elizabeth Coleburn's alleged ISI links and what are the allegations?
From March 2011 to January 2015, Elizabeth Coleburn worked with the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN) and was stationed mostly in Pakistan. Her work profile includes coordination of country programmes in India and Nepal and leading CDKN's knowledge management work.
Talking about Elizabeth Coleburn's educational qualification, she is a graduate of the London School of Economics. Elizabeth Coleburn currently works for Oxford Policy Management, which deals with climate issues.
Notably, Elizabeth Coleburn's work with US Senator Tom Udall, who had a strong relationship with George Soros, has sparked an uproar with BJP pointing it out. For the unversed, Udall was a member of the US SenateIntelligence Committeee and had adopted a pro-Pakistan stance throughout his career.
Who said what on Elizabeth Coleburn?
BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, " (Translated version) Very serious and disturbing facts have emerged that Deputy Leader of Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi and his wife have links with Pakistan and ISI.
I am saying with responsibility that Gaurav Gogoi's wife Elizabeth Coleburn is having affair with Tauqeer Sheikh who is an advisor in Pakistan Planning Commission.
This is a serious issue which poses a threat to the national security of the country, so we would like to ask Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge that Gaurav Gogoi needs to come out and give a clear account of Elizabeth's links with ISI and Pakistan... Why is Elizabeth Colburn working with Pakistani ISI agents?
Are they working in furtherance of the statement made by Shri Rahul Gandhi that the Congress' fight is with the Indian state?
Will Congress start supporting ISI and Pakistan to fulfill its political objectives?
Will it not endanger the national security of the country if Shri Gaurav Gogoi continues to hold the important post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition, particularly when he has access to very sensitive information relating to national security...
Why Congress party always becomes the best friend of Pakistan and ISI when it comes to conspiring against India?
Gaurav Gogoi's reaction to allegations against his wife
In response, Gaurav Gogoi said, "The BJP has no issue and resorts to these baseless allegations. It conducted the same smear campaign against me and my family before the Lok Sabha polls last year and the people of Jorhat parliamentary constituency replied (to it) by electing me." He brushed off allegations that his wife has connection with ISI saying it is a laughable matter.