BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Nov 19: Along with the rest of the country, the Assam government too paid rich tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 98th birth anniversary today. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi led the State in paying tribute by flagging off the Unity Walk on the occasion of tiol Integration Day at Khapara Veteriry College playground in the morning.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gogoi said that tion building cannot complete without participation of all people cutting across religious, commul and caste line. He said that the State is making advancement in development only for the fact that all religions, castes, tribes and communities co-exists peacefully.
“Indira Gandhi’s main focus was development and she always stressed on tiol integration and unity. She sowed the seeds to make India a developed country by stressing more on economic reforms, child and women welfare, upliftment of backward classes and people, revolutionizing agriculture and science and technology,” Gogoi said.
Recalling his association with the former Prime Minister, Gogoi said, “I stood by the Prime Minister during her bad times. I’m a friend of bad times and not one who stays only in good times.”
He also said that in terms of integration and unity Assam tops the list among all other States and added that he is committed to ensure 100 per cent advancement in all the fields.
On the other hand, on the occasion of tiol Integration Day, the employees of Assam Secretariat took oath of tiol Integration on Thursday. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi administered the oath to all the employees of the Assam Secretariat including top officials. Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia was also present during the program.
Similarly, the former Prime Minister’s birth anniversary was also observed at the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee’s head office Rajib Bhawan in Guwahati. The program was presided over by APCC president Anjan Dutta and was attended by many leaders and members of the APCC including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.