Guwahati: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, facing criticism for derogatory remarks of his leaders, here on Tuesday said that BJP intends to win 2016 assembly elections with “muscle power” and trying to bring “Goondaraj” in Assam.
Indicating that former minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma was the mastermind of an alleged attack on Congress headquarters in Guwahation Monday, Mr Gogoi announced that his government has ordered an inquiry into the attack on Congress office.
In an obvious attempt to counter BJP charges, Mr Gogoi said, “Never has in Assam’s history such incident has happened where office of a political party is vandalized like it happened on Monday. Not even during the days of Assam agitation (1979-1985) led by All Assam Students Union any such attack took place. Militant outfit, Ulfa killed our leaders but never attacked our offices or office of any political party.”
However, Mr Gogoi’s claim was denied by BJP leaders who pointed out the incident when Ulfa had bombed Rajiv Bhawan in first tenure of Mr Gogoi.
Continuing his tirade against BJP leaders, Mr Gogoi said that external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj and human resource development minister, Smriti Irani visited Assam recently. “Instead of talking about the problems and issues confronting the state, Ms Swaraj was busy in meeting businessmen.”
He said that Ms Swaraj being union minister should have met government officials. “We have problems where declared illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are not accepted by Bangladesh, there are report of China constructing dams in the upper reaches of Brahmaputra and North eastern insurgents in Myanmar. She does not have time to discuss all these issues. Is only New Delhi deals with foreign affairs?” Mr Gogoi questioned.
The chief minister further accused that funds of Central universities is slashed, several higher educational institutes are witnessing conflicts, as there is attempt to curb autonomy. In many IIT there is no professors. Mr Gogoi said that union ministers had hardly anytime to take note of peoples grievances.
