Ajmal, Mahanta snub Gogoi, rule out truck with Congress

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 28: The AIUDF and AGP today poured cold water on the idea of a "grand secular alliance" floated by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, ruling out any pre-poll tie-up with the Congress.

"Our party's stand is clear. We are anti-Congress and anti-BJP. We will maintain equal distance from the Congress and the BJP," AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal said, describing reports of Congress-AIUDF pre-poll alliance as "mere media speculation."

He however said the AIUDF is keen for an alliance with "ideologically similar" parties like AGP, CPI, CPI(M), NCP, Ga Mukti Sangram and the new tribal front led by Hagrama Mohilary.

"The AIUDF was born out of opposition to the Congress and we will maintain the distance (with the Congress). We are ready to go with any non-Congress and non-BJP alliance," the Dhubri MP said.

Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said the AGP and Congress are like "oil and water" which can never mix, and as such, an alliance is an "unrealistic thought."

"The AGP has a revolutiory history. It was born out of the Assam Agitation. There is no similarity between the ideologies of the two parties," Mahanta said.

On the other hand, a BJP spokesman ridiculed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi over his "grand alliance" proposition, saying the Congress has already conceded defeat by proposing such an alliance.

"The Chief Minister and the Congress is wary of the BJP's surge. The Chief Minister's statement indicates that they (Congress) have already conceded defeat, six months before the election," the BJP spokesman said, adding that "Gogoi's proposal also points to the fact that there is a secret understanding between the Congress and other parties."

The BJP also pointed out that Gogoi, who had once questioned "Who is Badruddin?" is now befriending the AIUDF chief for political interests.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday again appealed to all secular forces to come on a common platform to "defeat commul and divisive forces in the country."

Citing the "growing religious intolerance allegedly perpetrated by the BJP and its fringe groups", the CM said secular forces should work together to defeat their designs.