An explosive report by local media outlets has sparked a political firestorm, alleging that Elizabeth Colebourn, the British-born wife of Congress MP and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, Gaurav Gogoi, has ties to a Pakistani spy agency-linked NGO and controversial financier George Soros. The claims, yet to be independently verified, have triggered demands for a high-level investigation by various sections of people by the BJP-led central government.
According to the media exposé, Elizabeth Colebourn, during her tenure in Islamabad, reportedly worked for an NGO allegedly funded or operated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The report claims:
– Colebourn’s supervisor was Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to Pakistan’s Planning Commission and a figure linked to NGOs scrutinised for “anti-India activities. She made “multiple visits to Pakistan” between 2010 and 2015, purportedly for NGO-related work. The NGO in question allegedly operated under the guise of developmental projects but had “suspicious overlaps” with ISI-backed initiatives targeting India’s socio-political fabric. The report further alleges Colebourn maintained “close coordination” with billionaire financier George Soros, whose Open Society Foundations have faced accusations of meddling in Indian affairs.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has not yet responded to the allegations. His office declined to comment, citing “pending legal review.”
Making an indirect comment on the issue, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote in his X handle, “Serious questions need to be answered regarding allegations of ISI links, leading young individuals to the Pakistan Embassy for brainwashing and radicalization, and the refusal to take Indian citizenship for the past 12 years. Additionally, participation in a conversion cartel and receiving funds from external sources, including George Soros, to destabilise national security are grave concerns that cannot be ignored. At some point, accountability will be necessary. Simply deflecting responsibility or attempting to shift the focus onto others will not serve as an easy escape route. The nation deserves transparency and truth.” He further said, “ Sooner or later, it will be known how foreign powers, led by George Soros’ ecosystem, influenced a major decision of Assam Congress in 2014. Hopefully, the truth will emerge in due course.”
