GUWAHATI, Feb 14: Student body leaders and the people of Jorhat today threw the gauntlet at Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, who represents Jorhat constituency in the lower house of Parliament, to clarify and come clean on allegations levelled by Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and other BJP leaders regarding the alleged ISI links of his British wife Elizabeth Colbourn.
Utpal Sarma, president of the influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), said since Gaurav Gogoi is a representative of the people and since the allegations are extremely serious in nature, it is his moral duty to clarify and come clean.
“Since serious and sensitive allegations have been raised against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife, and since he holds a very high and distinguished public office and is a representative of the people, it is his moral duty to come clean and clarify the allegations. It is a very serious issue since it concerns the country’s security and so we believe that he should clarify and come clean,” Utpal Sarma told reporters.
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The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) and the Moran Students’ Union also asked the Congress leader to clarify with clarity and without ambiguity the serious allegations that have been raised against his British wife.
“Gaurav Gogoi is a parliamentarian and is the deputy leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha. Since he is public representative and the allegations that have been levelled against him and his wife are serious and are related to the country’s security, he should clarify with authority and clarity so that people know what the truth is. If he doesn’t deny the allegations with authority and tend to bypass them, people will be bound to believe that the allegations are true. Hence we demand Gaurav Gogoi to clarify the allegations,” ATASU president Basanta Gogoi said.
“We believe it is the moral duty of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi to clarify since the allegations relate to the security of the country,” a Moran Students’ Union leader said.
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People of Jorhat, meanwhile, also demanded of the Congress leader to make his stand clear.
“People of Jorhat have voted for you and it is their right to know if the allegations that have been raised against your wife are true. I would also question him as to why he could not persuade his wife to take up Indian citizenship even after 12 years of entering into wedlock. Also like to know why he met the then Pakistan High Commissioner to India despite being an MP and by flouting necessary protocols,” a resident of Jorhat questioned.
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Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma that the Assam cabinet, when it meets on Feb 16, will discuss the national security angle of the alleged Pakistani links of Gaurav Gogoi’s wife.
“On February 16, the Assam Cabinet will deliberate on whether the recent revelations concerning an MP from Assam have any implications for national security. The discussion will focus on assessing the matter objectively and thoroughly, ensuring that any necessary actions are taken from a completely nonpartisan standpoint,” he posted on his ‘X’ account.
