Assam SIT questions British High Commission staff over alleged Pakistan links of Gaurav Gogoi
Guwahati: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police on Sunday questioned two staff members of the British High Commission in Delhi regarding Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged links with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.
According to the police, the SIT sought information on the staffers’ connections with Sheikh, who has been named in an FIR for allegedly attempting to destabilise communal harmony. Sheikh is also being investigated for purportedly seeking sensitive national security-related information. An environmental scientist has also been questioned in connection with the case.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the SIT has made progress in its probe into the alleged Pakistani links of Gogoi and his wife. He claimed that Sheikh had visited India multiple times with delegations from Pakistan, including the country’s attorney general, and had shown a keen interest in Assam’s politics through controversial social media posts. According to Sarma, Sheikh and his associates stayed in small hotels to avoid public attention.
The Chief Minister added that the Assam Police may seek Interpol’s assistance if necessary and that he has briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the developments.
Following the registration of the case, the Assam Director General of Police formed a four-member SIT to conduct a "professional and objective investigation." The SIT has been authorised to include inspectors, sub-inspectors, and other necessary personnel as required.
Responding to the allegations, Gaurav Gogoi, the MP from Jorhat, said he was open to any investigation. Addressing CM Sarma’s claim that he had met former Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and later raised questions on national security and defence in Parliament, Gogoi clarified that the meeting was a routine diplomatic interaction and that BJP MPs had also asked similar questions in Parliament.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
