Former CM Tarun Gogoi fires salvo at AGP, BJP

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, June 28: “Besides all other issues, one issue was oil, based on which AGP came to power and today the same AGP, a party created to strengthen regiolism, after an alliance with BJP, is playing with the sentiments of the Assamese people by keeping silent on the issue of privatization of oil producing fields of Assam,” said former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at a press meet organized in the Jorhat Press club on Tuesday.

Tarun Gogoi in reply to questions put by jourlists said, “The people of Assam has chosen us to sit in the opposition in a bid to counter the government over their wrong policies and hence we will keep protesting against the privatization of oil fields and we have extended support to the Assam bandh. AGP which is in alliance with the BJP, should have voiced its protest against the decision since we all remember the slogan ‘Will give blood but no oil’, that was raised to attract the masses. Keeping aside politics, some companies which are already operatiol in Assam had refrained from using the latest technologies to explore for oil and as a result declared many profitable oilfields as dry and also unexplored potential oilfields, which in turn gave the government the chance to call in private sector to do the oiling business.”

“Regarding the establishment of AIIMS at Amingaon in North Guwahati, Raha in gaon which is right at the centre of the State, it would have been a far better option as it would have not only catered to the needs of the people of Assam but also those from galand and Aruchal Pradesh.  BJP MP from gaon, Rajen Gohain had also met me in this connection requesting AIIMS at Raha when I was in power. In fact my government had shown two locations in Assam. Whether or not the decision was changed to shift AIIMS to its present location owing to some pressure is best known to the BJP party,” added Gogoi.

Further responding to jourlists’ queries, Tarun Gogoi said, “The BJP prior to the election had launched a false propaganda that under my tenure the State treasury had become zero. I left Rs 5,000 crore with the RBI when I stepped down from power. They accused me of under development and that most of the money went out through corruption. Had I been so involved in corruption, then how would I have built so many roads, hospitals, guest houses?The present guest house used by Sarbanda Sonowal was built by me which is one of the best in India. The roads they are using today were built by us. Now they claim Modi ji to be pumping money into the State. One should understand that the present grant for Assam and seven other States has gone up from 32 per cent to 42 per cent.”

Gogoi added, “My son and MP Gaurav Gogoi is not in the race for the post of the president of APCC and I will be the first person to oppose his candidature. He is least interested and even now when we are talking politics he has taken days off to scale mountains at Uttarakhand. For APCC we need a person who is publicly acceptable whether from SC, ST or general background but the figure must have the zeal to revive the party among the people.”

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