Horse trading: BJP hits back at Gogoi

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 16: Reacting to former chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s confession that horse trading took place in the 2009 Rajya Sabha elections from Assam, State BJP today said that the former Chief minister’s confessiol statement in fact exposed the ‘tainted character’ of Congress party.

State BJP spokesperson Dileep Saikia in a statement said that Gogoi’s confession has not only put down the existing legal system of India, he has also committed a crime by disrespecting the trust of the people.      

Gogoi on Wednesday had said the then State ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rockybul Hussain were involved in the horse trading to get Congress-backed members elected to the Upper House.

Replying to queries about horse trading in 2009, the former chief minister admitted, “Yes, it happened. But they (read BJP) talk about Bhagavat Gita and corruption-free India… Whatever happened had happened openly in our time. Those who now talk much about upholding high moral principles indulge in such corrupt practices too.”

When asked specifically whether his government indulged in horse trading during the 2009 RS elections, Gogoi said: “By any means whatsoever, we brought people (read MLAs) aboard. I am into politics, and such things have to be done in politics. But it’s not a good thing to do.”