Guwahati: Assam government on February 16, directed the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case against Pakistani national Ali Sheikh under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant laws. The move comes amid allegations of a potential larger conspiracy involving Elizabeth Gogoi, the wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a Pakistani national with reported ties to Islamabad’s government and ISI.
CM Himanata Biswa Sarma cited multiple reports, social media activity, and publicly available information suggesting that Ali Sheikh has been actively commenting on India’s internal affairs and Parliamentary matters, raising concerns about his intentions. The Chief Minister has called for an extensive investigation into the matter, signaling heightened scrutiny over alleged foreign interference in domestic issues.
In a resolution taken by Assam cabinet on February 16 asked the DGP to investigate the matter which concerns national security. The resolution says, in recent days multiple news reports, social media posts and other information in the public domain have surfaced regarding certain comments made by a Pakistani national, Ali Taugeer Sheikh, aimed at disrupting communal harmony in Assam.
Additionally, a perusal of his social media activity includes exhaustive commentary on India’s internal affairs and parliamentary matters raising serious concerns on the said individual’s intention to compromise and damage India’s interests.
Closer examination of information from the public domain reveals Ali Sheikh is an influential individual with pervasive roots in the Government of Pakistan and its leadership, having even represented the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in international forums. It has been brought to the attention of the Assam Cabinet via publicly available information, that Ali Sheikh has even served the Government of Pakistan in several advisory positions and via committees constituted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. In light of these facts and given the historical attempts of Pakistani state and non-state actors to destabilise Assam, the Government of Assam takes Ali Sheikh’s attempts to interfere in the domestic matters of the State of Assam and the Republic of India with utmost seriousness.
Following a scrutiny of his social media activity and information available in the public domain, it appears that Ali Sheikh has been in contact with Elizabeth Gogoi a British national and the wife of Member of Parliament from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi. Apart from his engagements with the Government of Pakistan, Ali Sheikh has also founded LEAD Pakistan a non-profit organisation working in the field of climate change. Elizabeth Gogoi, a British national, was an integral part of LEAD Pakistan during her time spent in ISlamabad. Furthermore, both Ali Sheikh and Elizabeth Gogoi, a British National, have been a part of global climate action group called the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) which operates in both India and Pakistan.
The Assam Cabinet notes its concerns regarding the explicit involvement of a Pakistan based leader and other actors of a climate action group in matters concerning India’s internal affairs thereby raising serious questions on its actual intent and operations.
Given the broader national security implications of this issue, particularly in Assam, the Assam Cabinet has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam to register a case against Mr Ali Sheikh under appropriate provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Santia (BNS) and other relevant laws. Additionally, the Assam Cabinet directs an extensive inquiry to be conducted to ascertain whether these activities are part of a larger conspiracy and to identify any sympathisers or associates within Assam and across India who may be aiding Mr Sheikhs Anti India agenda.
The inquiry may look into the following angles:
1. Investigate the width and depth of Ali Sheikh’s network within the State of
Assam and across India
2. Examine individuals, organisations and accomplices based in Assam and rest of India who have aided and abetted Ali Sheikh’s actions against India.
3. Seek relevant assistance and information from concerned agencies and departments of the Government of India and Government of Assam in the course of the above-mentioned investigation.
The Assam Cabinet expects this matter to be pursued with utmost seriousness in the interest of India’s security and sovereignty. The Assam Cabinet notes that the State of Assam has historically remained a hotspot for ISI sponsored activities, necessitating heightened vigilance and decisive action.
