Guwahati: Assam will witness a political storm by the month of September this year due to Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan links, says Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“SIT has found many inputs regarding links of a number of Indian individuals with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. The SIT has also found multiple links of Ali Sheikh in India, and more revelations will come up in the next few days,” the Chief Minister told media persons.
He also said that the SIT was asked to complete the investigation by September this year.
“By September, many more things will be revealed. I assure you that the state will witness a political storm,” Sharma said.
“By September, many more things will be revealed. I assure you that the state will witness a political storm,” he said.
Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh has been named in an FIR by the Assam Police for his alleged role in destabilising communal harmony, and it is alleged that Ali Tauqeer Sheikh had links with Gaurav Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Gogoi, and the Congress MP’s wife allegedly travelled to Pakistan on Ali Sheikh’s invitation.
Earlier, the SIT team questioned two staffers in the British High Commission to retrieve information about their links with Ali Sheikh.
Ali Sheikh is under the lens for his purported role in seeking key information related to national security. The SIT team has also questioned an environmental scientist in the case.
Sarma had said SIT has made progress in its initial investigation. He said, “The SIT has found significant evidence related to Ali Sheikh for his multiple visits to India and his controversial social media posts expressing immense interest in the politics of Assam. Sheikh visited India with a Pakistani delegation, including the Attorney General of that country.”
He said Ali Sheikh frequently visited India till 2018 and stayed in small hotels to avoid public attention.
“We have been probing the entire ecosystem related to Ali Sheikh. If required, we will take the help of Interpol. We have also briefed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the developments,” he said.
A four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the alleged Pakistani links of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Gogoi.
The Chief Minister said that pursuant to the registration of the case, the DGP, Assam Police, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter, adding that the Assam Police will conduct a professional and completely objective investigation.
“The SIT would co-opt Inspectors, Sub Inspectors, and needed personnel with the approval of the Assam Police Headquarters and would from time to time report to the Assam Director General of Police,” he said.
In response to a series of allegations by the Chief Minister, Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi asserted that he is open to any investigation regarding the controversy.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also questioned why Gaurav Gogoi met the Pakistan High Commissioner and later asked questions regarding national security and Defence in Parliament.
Gogoi responded by saying that the visit to the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was a customary thing and there was nothing to hide.
“A lot of BJP MPs have asked similar questions that I raised in Parliament. However, I am always open to any investigation, and it is the Assam government’s duty to conduct the investigation,” said Gogoi. (Edited)
