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 with a Pakistani spy agency-linked NGO and controversial financier George Soros.
Dubious Role
Reports point out that 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:
- n Colebourn’s supervisor was Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to Pakistan’s Planning Commission and a figure linked to NGOs scrutinised for anti-Bharat 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 Bharat’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 internal affairs of Bharat.
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.”
Questioning ISI’s Links
Commenting on the issue, Assam Chief Minister 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 radicalisation, 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.”
Assam CM 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.”
The 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, wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a Pakistani national with reported ties to Islamabad’s Government and ISI. Assam Police CID has registered a case against Pakistani national Ali Sheikh and formed a SIT led by a ADGP level officer to investigate the whole matter.
Citing multiple reports, social media activity, and publicly available information, CM Sarma suggested that Ali Sheikh has been actively commenting on Bharat’s internal affairs and Parliamentary matters, raising concerns about his intentions. The Chief Minister also called for an extensive investigation into the matter, signalling heightened scrutiny over alleged foreign interference in domestic issues.
Pak Interfering in Assam
A resolution taken by the Assam Cabinet on February 16 asked the DGP to investigate the matter which concerns national security. Additionally, a perusal of his social media activity includes exhaustive commentary on Bharat’s internal affairs and parliamentary matters raising serious concerns on the said individual’s intention to compromise and damage Bharat’s interests.
Closer examination of information from the public domain reveals that Ali Sheikh is an influential individual with 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 had 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 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 Bharat’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 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 Bharat who may be aiding Sheikh’s anti-Bharat agenda.
BJP Demands Clarification
The Assam CM also pointed out that after a meeting with former Pakistani Ambassador to India, Abdul Basit (2014-17), Gogoi allegedly began raising parliamentary questions related to Bharat’s nuclear programme. CM Sarma suggested that the nature and timing of these questions raise concerns about their intent and possible repercussions for national security. “Interestingly, after Bharat started taking a grim view of Abdul Basit’s conduct, the Hon’ble MP’s interest in defence and nuclear affairs saw a notable decline—a pattern that warrants closer scrutiny,” Sarma alleged. He also questioned whether the MP visited Palestine with the sponsorship of a foreign NGO? If yes the MP should explain it, CM Sarma said. Moreover, whether the MP debriefed the external affairs ministry on his meeting with Pakistani high commissioner also needs to be explained, CM Sarma added.
Interestingly, MP Gaurav Gogoi and the Congress leadership are trying to divert the serious issue to a political agenda. Gogoi told reporters that BJP is attacking him personally keeping in mind the Assembly election of Assam to be held in 2026. But he didn’t reply whether his British wife is associated with a Pakistani NGO or not? He also refused to answer about his visit to the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi or Palestine. Meanwhile, the Assam CM said that many sensational reports are emerging in the ongoing investigation which will be revealed due course of time.
