Gogoi hits back at 'nervous' BJP

CM to come up with white papers on Central funds, Bangladeshi influx

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 30: With the BJP mounting a sharp attack on the ruling party, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday hit back, accusing the saffron party of launching a "misinformation campaign" as it was "nervous" after the drubbing in Bihar.

"Amit Shah, Mahendra Singh, Ram Madhav…all have indulged in a misinformation campaign. This shows their nervousness. Our medicine has not expired. People have seen in Bihar whose medicine has expired," Gogoi told a press conference.

Gogoi said the BJP's vote share in the Lok Sabha elections was just 31 per cent. "But they were giving an impression of an overwhelming mandate. Later, they lost in Delhi, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand and had to go for an alliance government in Maharashtra," he said.

He charged the State BJP leaders of being "spineless" and submitting before Central leaders appointed as observers for the State.

"Amit Shah says my government is corrupt. Why doesn't he then ask the CBI or vigilance to probe?" Gogoi asked.

The Chief Minister said he would come up with a white paper on Central funds released to the State since 2001.

"I will give the white paper before December 20. I will show what the UPA has given the State and what the BJP has given," he said.

"Even before the Gas Cracker project is ready, they are saying it has been commissioned. If it has been commissioned, why was I not informed?" he asked, referring to media reports today that the project has been commissioned.

Claiming credit for projects like the Bogibeel bridge, Numaligarh Refinery, Broad Gauge projects, Bongaigaon Thermal Station and Kaliabhomora bridge, Gogoi said, "Let them give us an AIIMS. Then I will give them credit. I am very particular about such matters."

The Chief Minister also alleged the BJP is hell bent on making the foreigners problem a poll issue and said he would furnish a white paper on the issue as well. He said the then UPA government had issued the notification for the NRC update exercise on December 6, 2013.

Targeting Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gogoi said the former minister had several crimil charges pending against him. "He and his wife had been summoned by the CBI. But now that he has joined the BJP, he has become a saint. Even Amit Shah was in jail and had cases against him. There are no such charges against me… and they call me corrupt!" Gogoi said.

Rebuking Amit Shah's "lack of knowledge" about Assam, Gogoi said, "We got 108 service before Gujarat. In fact, we were the second State in the country to get this service. Ask him (Shah) to check."

The Chief Minister also dismissed as "wild allegation" the BJP's charge that his son is running the State administration.