Gogoi basks in Games glory

Doordarshan has turned into Modidarshan, says CM

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Feb 18: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the appreciation by Prime Minister rendra Modi of the 12th South Asian Games 2016 being the best so far has come as encouraging news for the organisers who worked hard to make the event a resounding success.

Gogoi, however, was critical of the tiol media, including Doordarshan.

On one hand, he said, the tiol media did not give adequate coverage to the event, Doordarshan only covered the programmes of the Central ministers, particularly Sports minister Sarbanda Sonowal while overlooking State leaders and functiories.

"It appears that Doordarshan has turned into Modidarshan. I figured nowhere in their coverage. I was watching their coverage, and I found that they took shots of only the Central ministers, particularly Sonowal," Gogoi told a press conference here.

He said the Games was successful only because the State had a ready infrastructure in place.

"Assam pulled out all stops for the South Asian Games. Right from day one, our officials worked day in and day out, leaving no stone unturned to make the Games a great success. Security, accommodation, transportation, food and other logistic support were arranged for the players and delegates," he said.

"Credit for the success goes to the people of Assam, the sports organisations and hundreds of volunteers and their families," Gogoi added.

"The successful conduct of the mega sports event has proved that Assam has the technical expertise and resources at its disposal. Like the 33rd tiol Games in 2007, the South Asian Games have brought laurels to the State and the country as a whole. The appreciation from the Prime Minister is an acknowledgement of this," the CM said.

Gogoi also pleaded with the Prime Minister for a special package of Rs 1,000 crore for development of rural sports infrastructure in all the 219 development blocks in the State.

Meanwhile, reacting to the row at JNU, the Chief Minister alleged that the BJP-led Central government is trying to impose RSS ideology on educatiol institutions in the country.

"They are trying to impart RSS ideology in educatiol institutions and universities. Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani is doing whatever the RSS says," Gogoi said at a press conference, adding that it is "a very dangerous trend".

Expressing concern over the deterioration of law and order in the tiol capital, Gogoi said it was "condemble" that "BJP-backed advocates" attacked jourlists inside the Patiala House Court.

"Is it not violation of basic principles of the Constitution? No one can say anything against (rendra) Modi. They (BJP and RSS) are trying to destroy democracy in India. This trend is dangerous where they want to impose RSS ideology, which is a fascist ideology," he said.