Assam Government orders probe into Pakistani national Ali Sheikh’s India activities-OxBig News Network

The BJP-led Assam Government on Sunday ordered a DGP-level inquiry into the network of Pakistani national Ali Sheikh in the state and across India, with the state Cabinet passing a resolution on the issue.

The resolution led by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also cited the alleged contact Ali Sheikh had with Elizabeth Gogoi, a British national and wife of Congress MP from Jorhat Gaurav Gogoi.

Gaurav has already denied any links between his wife and Sheikh and said he would take legal action for defamation of his family.

The Assam Cabinet resolution passed today said: “Given the broader national security implications of the issue, particularly in Assam, the Assam Cabinet has directed the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Assam to register a case against Mr Ali Sheikh under appropriate provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (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 India who may be aiding Mr Sheikh’s Anti India agenda.”

The resolution has directed an inquiry to “investigate the width and depth of Mr Ali Sheikh’s network within the State of Assam and across India; examine individuals, organisations and accomplices based in Assam and rest of India who have aided and abetted Mr Ali Sheikh’s actions against India; seek relevant assistance and information from concerned agencies and departments of the Government of India and Government of Assam in the course of the above-mentioned investigation.”

The Assam Cabinet said it expects this matter to be pursued with utmost seriousness in the interest of India’s security and sovereignty and noted “Assam has historically remained a hotspot for ISI sponsored activities, necessitating heightened vigilance and decisive action.”

The resolution said in recent days, multiple news reports, social media posts and other information in the public domain have surfaced regarding certain comments made by a Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, aimed at disrupting communal harmony in Assam.

“A perusal of his social media activity includes exhaustive commentary on India’s internal affairs and parliamentary matters raising serious concerns on the said individual’s intention to compromise and damage India’s interests. Closer examination of information from the public domain reveals that Ali Sheikh is an influential individual with pervasive 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 has 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 Mr Ali Sheikh’s attempts to interfere in the domestic matters of the State of Assam and the Republic of India with utmost seriousness,” states the resolution.

It adds that a scrutiny of Sheikh’s 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 the wife of Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Assam, Shri Gaurav Gogoi. Apart from his engagements with Government of Pakistan, Mr Ali Sheikh has also founded LEAD Pakistan a non-profit organisation working in the field of climate change.”

The content said Elizabeth Gogoi was an integral part of LEAD Pakistan during her time spent in Islamabad. “Furthermore, both Ali Sheikh and Elizabeth Gogoi have been a part of global climate action group called the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) which operates in both India and Pakistan,” it said.

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 India’s internal affairs, thereby raising serious questions on its actual intent and operations.