Ultimately, this kind of politics undermines the momentum of genuine democratic progress. As political analyst and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “Democracy is not just about the vote, but about the dignity and respect accorded to each citizen.”
Amit Pandey
Indian politics has indeed reached a pivotal moment where the concept of family pride and blood connection have become deeply intertwined with political discourse. Recent events have put this into sharp focus, particularly the accusations against Gaurav Gogoi by BJP leaders, including Himanta Biswa Sarma, that his wife, Elizabeth, has connections with an NGO allegedly linked to Pakistan’s ISI, the intelligence service. Despite Gaurav’s dismissal of these allegations as “ridiculous and entertaining,” the BJP continues to press the issue, with Himanta leading the charge.
The question arises as to how such serious allegations can be leveled against the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha without concrete evidence or proper investigation. Gaurav Gogoi holds a vital position in Indian politics, second only to Rahul Gandhi in the Congress hierarchy. Yet, Himanta’s relentless attacks on Gaurav and his family go unchecked.
If the BJP truly believes in the veracity of these claims, they should pursue a discreet and thorough investigation to maintain the decorum and dignity of political positions. Should the allegations prove true, the law should take its course. However, it appears that the BJP’s motive is to defame Gaurav Gogoi by repeatedly making the same accusations, which serves to distract from their own political challenges.
This is not the first time the BJP has resorted to such tactics. From 1996 to 2004, Sonia Gandhi faced relentless criticism over her Italian origins and supposed threats to national security. Despite these accusations, the Congress eventually came to power, and the issue was dropped. Similarly, Shashi Tharoor faced scrutiny over his wife, Sunanda Pushkar, and other allegations. The pattern seems to be an attempt to undermine leaders by targeting their families, often focusing on marriages to women who respect Indian culture and have integrated into Indian society.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, known for his aggressive Hindutva stance, has become a prominent figure in the BJP’s strategy. His attacks on Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders often cross the boundaries of healthy democratic discourse. The country’s current political climate, characterized by divisive rhetoric and populist tactics, has made it easier for such narratives to gain traction.
The use of slogans like Yogi Adityanath’s “Thok Denge” (We’ll hit them) and Himanta’s “Sabko Bhagna Padega” (Everyone will have to flee) reflect a style of politics that prioritizes sensationalism over substance. Analysts suggest that this approach aims to gain cheap popularity and divert attention from the government’s failures.
Ultimately, this kind of politics undermines the momentum of genuine democratic progress. As political analyst and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “Democracy is not just about the vote, but about the dignity and respect accorded to each citizen.” Similarly, the Mahabharata teaches us, “A king should seek to establish the rule of law, ensure justice, and maintain harmony.” These timeless principles remind us that the true essence of democracy lies in compassion, respect, and the rule of law, which should guide political conduct in India.
This reflection on the state of Indian politics underscores the need for a return to a more respectful and dignified discourse, where issues are addressed on their merits, and personal attacks are set aside in favor of constructive dialogue and progress.
The political rivalry between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has taken an intensely personal turn. Sarma has accused Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Gogoi, of alleged links to Pakistan’s ISI, citing her past work with an NGO associated with Pakistani nationals. In retaliation, Gogoi has dismissed these allegations as baseless and politically motivated, linking them to his earlier exposé of Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, receiving ₹10 crore in Central grants for her media company. This political battle has sparked a debate on the ethics of personal attacks in Indian politics.
Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Allegations:
On February 13, 2025, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma questioned the legitimacy of a lawmaker’s spouse holding foreign citizenship for over a decade. He implied that Elizabeth Gogoi’s prolonged foreign status could raise national security concerns, stating, “Allowing a foreign spouse of a lawmaker to retain foreign citizenship for 12 years is far too long. Loyalty to the nation must always take precedence over all considerations.”
Taking his claims further, Sarma accused Elizabeth of working under a Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, in an NGO that was engaged in climate research but allegedly had deeper connections. He remarked, “Elizabeth Colburn w/o Hon’ble MP worked under Ali Tauqeer Sheikh in the organisation LEAD Pakistan, which operated under the guise of climate change initiatives.”
Sarma also brought up a 2015 meeting between Gaurav Gogoi and Pakistan’s then-High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, insinuating that this, coupled with Elizabeth’s professional background, could indicate external influence on Gogoi’s political activities. He stated, “In 2015, the Pakistani High Commissioner to India… invited a first-term Member of Parliament… to discuss India-Pakistan relations.”
Gaurav Gogoi’s Retaliation:
Gogoi was quick to dismiss the allegations, calling them a diversionary tactic to shift focus from Sarma’s own issues. Referring to the accusations against his wife, he sarcastically remarked, “If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am an R&AW agent of India.”
Gogoi pointed out that such attacks were politically motivated, timed conveniently before elections to malign opposition figures. He stated, “Normally these kinds of things emerge close to elections… These ‘masala’ things come up around elections.”
He also turned the spotlight on the ongoing controversy surrounding Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. In September 2023, Gogoi had accused Riniki of receiving ₹10 crore in Central government grants meant for farmers, channeled through a scheme to her media company. The revelation led to a political uproar, with Riniki filing a ₹10 crore defamation lawsuit against Gogoi. Referring to this, Gogoi said, “The Assam Chief Minister is making these allegations only to divert attention from the allegations against him.”
Experts suggest that Sarma’s attacks on Gogoi’s family are a strategic move to deflect from the BJP’s internal controversies and the financial scandal surrounding his wife. Congress leaders argue that such personal attacks degrade political discourse and indicate desperation. BJP leaders, including Gaurav Bhatia, however, have backed Sarma, demanding clarification from Gogoi regarding his wife’s alleged foreign links, calling it a “serious national security issue.”
This escalating battle reflects the deep-seated rivalries in Assam politics, where personal allegations are being weaponized in the run-up to elections.
Elizabeth Colburn, the British-born spouse of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, has a professional background centered on climate change and development. She is an alumna of the London School of Economics, where she pursued studies pertinent to her career in environmental policy and management.
From March 2011 to January 2015, Colburn was associated with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in Pakistan. In this role, she coordinated country programs in India and Nepal and led knowledge management initiatives. Currently, Colburn is employed by Oxford Policy Management, focusing on climate-related issues.
Her marriage to Gaurav Gogoi in 2013 has recently come under political scrutiny, with allegations concerning her professional associations. However, these claims have been refuted by the involved parties.
BJP’s Strategy Behind Attacking
From Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origins to Shashi Tharoor’s late wife Sunanda Pushkar and now Gaurav Gogoi’s spouse, the BJP has consistently used personal allegations as a political tool against Congress leaders. The pattern suggests a strategic attempt to undermine Congress leaders’ credibility by questioning their familial associations and ties to foreign entities.
Sonia Gandhi and the Foreign Citizenship Debate (1996-2004)
The BJP’s attacks on Sonia Gandhi intensified in the late 1990s when she emerged as Congress’ most powerful leader. The party repeatedly raised concerns over her Italian origins, arguing that a person of foreign descent should not hold India’s highest office. BJP stalwarts like Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi led campaigns suggesting Sonia’s Indian citizenship was a political maneuver. This narrative was used to create suspicion about Congress’ leadership and to rally nationalist sentiments ahead of elections.
Shashi Tharoor, Sunanda Pushkar, and Controversies
In 2010, Shashi Tharoor’s association with Sunanda Pushkar became a major political controversy when allegations surfaced regarding the Kochi IPL team. The issue escalated in 2014 when Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances. BJP leaders frequently raised this case, implying Tharoor had questionable dealings. The controversy was kept alive to weaken his political standing.
Gaurav Gogoi’s Wife and the ISI Allegation
Now, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has targeted Gaurav Gogoi by questioning his wife’s past professional associations and foreign citizenship. By linking her to Pakistan’s ISI, BJP aims to create doubts about Gogoi’s national loyalty. This serves to shift focus from corruption allegations against Sarma’s family and weaken Congress in Assam before elections.
This pattern reveals BJP’s strategy of using personal allegations to damage Congress leaders while diverting public attention from governance issues.
Political experts, authors, and commentators see BJP’s personal attacks—especially linking Congress leaders’ spouses to foreign or suspicious entities—as part of a larger political strategy. These tactics serve multiple objectives, from influencing voter perception to diverting attention from pressing governance issues. The recent allegations by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against Gaurav Gogoi’s wife are being viewed in the same light.
Senior journalist and political analyst Paranjoy Guha Thakurta notes that BJP has consistently used nationalism as a key electoral strategy. By questioning the foreign connections of Congress leaders’ spouses—from Sonia Gandhi’s Italian origins to Gaurav Gogoi’s wife’s alleged links to Pakistan—BJP strengthens its nationalist credentials while portraying Congress as weak on national security. This approach resonates particularly well with BJP’s core voter base, which is sensitive to issues of foreign influence and sovereignty.
According to veteran columnist Aakar Patel, these attacks often come at moments when BJP leaders face scrutiny over governance failures or corruption allegations. The timing of Sarma’s accusations against Gogoi’s wife coincides with Congress’ focus on Sarma’s wife receiving ₹10 crore in government grants. The same pattern was observed when Shashi Tharoor faced personal attacks following the controversy surrounding Sunanda Pushkar’s death. Patel argues that such diversions help BJP control the political narrative and prevent discussions on governance lapses.
Author and political commentator Ashutosh believes that BJP follows a strategy of “psychological warfare” against opposition leaders. By attacking their personal lives—whether through foreign connections, alleged illicit relationships, or corruption—BJP aims to weaken the opposition’s morale and credibility. Sarma, once a Congress leader himself, has built his political identity in BJP by aggressively targeting his former colleagues, but his own record as Assam’s Chief Minister has been marred by several failures.
Sarma has faced criticism for his handling of Assam’s flood crisis, with inadequate relief measures leaving thousands stranded. His government’s crackdown on alleged “love jihad” cases and bulldozer politics have drawn legal challenges, questioning the arbitrary use of state power. Furthermore, Assam’s economic situation remains concerning, with rising unemployment and agrarian distress continuing to trouble the state. Instead of addressing these pressing concerns, Sarma has chosen to engage in political attacks, which experts believe is an attempt to mask his administration’s inefficiencies.
Noted psephologist and analyst Pradeep Gupta suggests that BJP carefully selects such narratives before elections to weaken its opponents. In 2019, BJP leaders revived the Rajiv Gandhi-Bofors issue, and now ahead of the 2024 elections, Gaurav Gogoi’s wife is being targeted. This is a calculated move to put Congress on the defensive while BJP retains the upper hand in narrative-setting.
Experts agree that BJP’s personal attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a structured political strategy. By intertwining nationalism, public perception, and narrative control, BJP ensures that opposition leaders remain constantly on the defensive. However, Sarma’s growing reliance on these tactics instead of governance improvements suggests a leader more focused on political maneuvering than on delivering results for Assam.
BJP’s repeated attacks on opposition leaders’ spouses reflect a well-planned strategy aimed at shaping public perception, discrediting rivals, and diverting attention from governance failures. Whether it was the controversy around Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origins, the allegations surrounding Sunanda Pushkar, or the recent claims against Gaurav Gogoi’s wife, the pattern remains consistent—raise doubts, question national loyalty, and push the opposition into a defensive position. This approach not only consolidates BJP’s nationalist image but also prevents meaningful debates on governance and policy issues.
In Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s reliance on personal attacks appears to be an attempt to mask his own administrative shortcomings. From inadequate flood relief to rising unemployment and controversial crackdowns, his tenure has been marked by unfulfilled promises and criticism. By targeting Gogoi’s wife at a time when his own wife’s financial dealings are under scrutiny, Sarma is playing a familiar game of deflection.
However, experts argue that such tactics, while effective in the short term, do not erase governance failures. If BJP and leaders like Sarma continue prioritizing personal attacks over policy-driven leadership, voter dissatisfaction may eventually rise, challenging their dominance in future elections. Politics based on narratives can only last as long as governance remains unchallenged.
( Author is Managing Editor Of The Emerging World)
