Gaurav visited Pak in 2013, suspected to have undergone ‘some kind of training’: Himanta
Guwahati (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday accused Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi of visiting Pakistan clandestinely in 2013 without informing the authorities, and it is suspected that he had undergone “some kind of training there”.
At a press conference here ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Sarma also charged the Congress leader’s British wife Elezabeth with collecting information about India while working at a firm in this country, and send those to Pakistan.
She had also been to Pakistan nine times while working in two Indian organisations, the Assam CM alleged.
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The Assam government had constituted an SIT to inquire into the alleged anti-India conspiracy of Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, in connivance with Gogoi, also the state Congress chief, and his wife.
The SIT submitted its report to Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, on September 10, the date initially set by the chief minister for providing evidence to support his accusations against Gogoi.
“We believe a deeper connection among Gaurav, his wife, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. We recommend a probe by a central agency,” said Sarma.
A Pakistani firm gave Elizabeth a job, then transferred her to India; though her salary was paid by Sheikh, he claimed.
Sarma and the BJP have been attacking Gogoi, who also heads the state Congress, over his wife's alleged connection with Pakistan's spy agency ISI.
The Assam cabinet on Saturday decided to refer the case of Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan links to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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BCB chief in Lahore as ICC, PCB hold talks over India match boycott
Karachi (PTI): Bangladesh Cricket Board president Amin ul Islam has arrived in Lahore ahead of a virtual meeting involving the PCB and ICC, amid efforts to resolve the standoff over Pakistan’s proposed boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India.
A former Test cricketer, Amin ul Islam met Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore and is expected to be part of the virtual discussions aimed at persuading Pakistan to reconsider its decision not to play India in the World T20 Cup clash scheduled for February 15.
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Naqvi has not commented much on the instructions from the government to boycott the India match but a reliable source said the situation has changed after the Sri Lankan cricket board sent an email to the PCB, urging them to end the boycott.
ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta has also been to Colombo to meet with the President of the Sri Lankan board, Shammi Silva who sent the email to Naqvi to play the India match in the World Cup.
The ICC has already sought an explanation from Pakistan on how the 'Force Majeure' clause can be invoked to justify the team's refusal to play the T20 World Cup match against India after the PCB tried to wriggle out of the situation by putting the onus on its government.
But there is a glimmer of hope now as PCB has approached the ICC for deliberations, as per an ICC Director, who feels that the marquee clash will eventually take place.
The ICC is currently engaging with the board in a structured manner to explore possible resolutions, with a view that interest of the game must supersede unilateral action.
Pakistan decided to boycott the India match in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were replaced by Scotland after they refused to travel to India for the World cup matches citing security concerns.
