Former Assam chief minister and Congress stalwart, Tarun Gogoi, went to the extent of terming the hooch tragedy to be a result of prevailing rampant corruption
Talking to media in Guwahati on Wednesday last, the three-time Congress chief minister accused the BJP of lying to the people and failing in their promises. “The BJP governments have failed in all their promises. Starting from bringing back black money to digital India they have failed everywhere. In order to hide their failures they are using the sacrifices of the brave soldiers to win the coming elections. Today they don't talk about their promises anymore. In order to cover their failures they are trying to torment the people for the second time. We believe this government under the prime minister is about lies and drama,” said Gogoi.
Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congressman said, “He keeps telling that India is safe only under his rule. Does he mean that India was not safe under other prime ministers? All the prime ministers have contributed to this all around development and the unity that prevails in the country. The country is safe not because of the prime minister but the unity of the people and by the sacrifice and alertness of the armed defence forces. We have defeated the British and the contribution of the Congress was immense. The BJP had no contribution in it and rather helped the Britishers. Today they are talking about nationalism. The Modi government sermonising Congress about nationalism and patriotism is laughable.”
Tarun Gogoi blamed the BJP government for creating confusion on the air strike in Balakot, Pakistan. “In the Balakot strike they have been confusing everyone. The air chief says something, minister SS Ahluwalia says it was just to scare Pakistan, Amit Shah says 250, foreign secretary says large numbers. The foreign press has questioned our credibility and we should answer them. Who created this contradictory situation in the first place? There is contradiction in what home minister Rajnath Singh and the defence minister has to say. So, who is confusing us?” asked Gogoi.
The senior Congressman pointed out that on one side India is fencing Assam’s border with Bangladesh and on the other it is pursuing citizenship amendment bill to allow Bangladeshis to become Indian citizens. Gogoi said, “The home minister was here to initiate the sealing of border. This is a good step but what about the West Bengal and the Meghalaya borders? They are wide open. On one side you are bringing Bangladeshis through the citizenship bill and on the other side you are fencing the borders. What is the point of fencing?”
According to Tarun Gogoi there was clear lack of interest on the part of the government to complete a fair NRC. “Where is the NRC? This government has no intention of sending back illegal migrants. Amit Shah had said that there are 40 lakhs illegal migrants and the BJP will send them back. So what are they doing about it? The draft NRC should be thrown into the Brahmaputra,” said Gogoi.
Accusing the BJP of trying to divert the public issues in the name of militancy, Tarun Gogoi said, “What was the result of demonetisation that was supposed to contain militancy? During their tenure militancy grew in Jammu & Kashmir. Dreaded terrorist Masood Azhar, who has now become a thorn, was released during Vajpayee’s rule. This government has on stand. They cannot succeed in the elections this time. They are trying to divert the attention of the people and they will continue doing this. They are not giving any importance to the issues of common public like unemployment, price rise, education etc.”
Gogoi called the BJP as the richest party and corruption was on rise during BJP rule. “They are the richest party in India. How did they get so much money? Assam has the highest rate of corruption. The hooch tragedy is an example of how illegal licences were issued for money by the government. Over 150 died and it is a surprise that no CBI inquiry has been set up,” said Gogoi.
Terming the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) as a party which failed the people of Assam, Tarun Gogoi said that if AGP joins the BJP it will become a thug party, a party that has cheated the people of Assam. “They are all power hungry and will do anything. For AGP, it is the money and for BJP, it is the power. So, they are now interdependent. If an alliance happens at this stage, only the leaders will go, what about the supporters who are not in favour of an alliance?” questioned Gogoi.
On Himanta Biswa Sarma’s prospect as future chief minister, Tarun Gogoi said that the past record of Himanta Biswa won’t let him become the CM, though he might become a minister at the centre. Gogoi also added that AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal has an understanding with the BJP leader and will put up candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections as per Himanta Biswa Sarma's wish. “They are also interdependent, one for money and other for more money,” said Gogoi.
Tarun Gogoi minced no words in telling the media that there is a cold war between Himanta Biswa Sarma and chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He stated that this war between the two BJP leaders to get into the good books of Amit Shah and Modi is making Assamese people suffer.
On being asked how many seats the Congress will manage to win in the coming Lok Sabha elections, Gogoi replied, “Our target is 10 seats but it will depend on whom the BJP fields. It will get clearer once we know their candidates. For Congress, Kaliabor and Jorhat are good seats.”
