HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 29: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday intensified his political offensive against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that the opposition leader and his British wife are “Pakistani agents” and openly daring Gogoi to initiate legal action, even as the BJP government showcased its flagship women-centric welfare programme in Teok Assembly constituency ahead of the Assembly elections.
“If Gaurav Gogoi has the courage, let him file a case against me,” Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of an official programme here, signalling an aggressive political posture as the election season draws closer.
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Dismissing opposition demands for President’s Rule, the chief minister said elections are due shortly and asserted that Assam’s future would be decided through the democratic process, not constitutional intervention.
The remarks came amid continued BJP attacks on Gogoi over his wife Elizabeth Colburn’s alleged links with Pakistan.
Sarma claimed that Gogoi and his wife were acting as “Pakistani agents” and reiterated allegations that the Congress MP had “direct links” with the neighbouring country.
Referring to the Special Investigation Team probe into alleged interference by Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, the chief minister said the state cabinet would take a formal decision on the future course of action on the SIT report on February 7.
Sarma claimed that Colburn was examined by SIT investigators along with 22–25 others and alleged that she had travelled 19 times between India and Pakistan.
He further alleged that Gogoi had visited Pakistan at the invitation of its spy agency ISI, undergone training there and worked closely with the Pakistani establishment.
The chief minister also alleged that Colburn was collecting sensitive government documents, including intelligence reports, for what he described as a Pakistani climate lobby.
Responding to Gogoi’s statement that he was not scared by the allegations, Sarma remarked, “Then it is good for him.”
Escalating his political rhetoric, Sarma said, “In today’s history, the entire Congress is Badan Barphukan, who invited outsiders and made them settle here. We will have to fight and will continue to fight,” invoking the historical figure often blamed for paving the way for foreign rule in Assam.
The sharp political attack coincided with a large cheque distribution programme held at the playground of the Chatai Science and Technology Institute in Jorhat district, organised by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department through the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
At the event, Sarma distributed ₹10,000 cheques to 37,000 women self-help group members under the state’s women entrepreneurship scheme.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said the scheme reflects the BJP government’s political and governance vision of empowering women as agents of social change.
He said the initiative aims to cover 30 lakh women across Assam and has already been implemented in 100 Assembly constituencies, with the remaining 26 to be completed by February.
“This is not a promise for the future but work already done,” Sarma said, projecting the programme as proof of delivery ahead of the polls.
Linking welfare measures with governance outcomes, Sarma said crimes against women have declined over the past five years as more women have become economically independent.
“When women step out and become financially independent, social change is inevitable,” he said.
Referring to the Orunodoi scheme, he said direct benefit transfers into women’s bank accounts have altered family power structures and ensured dignity for women, adding that “a society that does not respect its mothers and women can never progress.”
Sarma said the entrepreneurship scheme is designed to create ‘Lakhpati Baideu’ and not merely distribute ₹10,000.
He claimed that 1,671 women from the Teok constituency have already crossed the ₹1 lakh annual income mark.
Explaining the phased model, he said beneficiaries who use the initial amount productively receive an additional ₹25,000, followed by ₹50,000 in the next phase, taking total support up to ₹85,000.
He added that there has been no misuse of funds and credited women beneficiaries for their discipline and commitment.
On the election outlook, the chief minister said Assembly elections in Assam are always competitive and unpredictable.
“The people will decide through their votes. No one, not even God, can predict election results in advance,” he remarked, adding that the government prefers elections to be held before Bohag Bihu and that the poll schedule could be announced at any time.
The programme was attended by Kaziranga MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, former MLA Rana Goswami, chairperson Lakhimi Khargaria, BJP Jorhat district president Shantanu Pujari, Deputy Commissioner Jay Shivani and other party leaders, underlining the BJP’s effort to combine welfare outreach with a sharpened political campaign. (With inputs from PTI)
