Gogoi mocks PM's Kokrajhar agenda

'BPF a small party, Modi attending it's function shows BJP's desperation'

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Jan 17: Questioning the ratiole behind Prime Minister rendra Modi's participation in a party function of the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said it showed the BJP's predicament ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

"The meeting organized on Tuesday is not a government meeting. It is a BPF party meeting. I am not sure how far it is justified for a Prime Minister to attend the meeting," Gogoi said, ahead of Modi's day-long visit to the State on Tuesday.

Gogoi said BPF is a small political party with limited reach.

"The Prime Minister is having to attend such a meeting. This shows the BJP's plight. Even we had an alliance with the BPF, but I never attended their party programmes," the Chief Minister said.

Gogoi said Central leaders never visit the State during calamities like floods, but during elections they "flood" the State with series of visits.

He also pooh-poohed BPF president Hagrama Mohilary's claim that he would be a kingmaker in the next assembly elections. "He had claimed that before the last assembly elections as well. Even Badruddin Ajmal had made similar claims. So what happened?" Gogoi said.

Referring to Badruddin Ajmal's tweet on Saturday that he had given an alliance proposal to the AIUDF, Gogoi said, "That is completely false. It was he who came to me. That is why I don't like such people."

Gogoi also rubbished claims by Himanta Biswa Sarma that he held meetings with the AIUDF supremo in Bihar and at Assam Bhavan in Delhi.

In yet another attack at Sarbanda Sonowal, Gogoi said the Union Sports Minister has failed to get the funds required for organizing the SAF Games released from the Fince ministry.

"The State government has been given only Rs 20 crore so far. We have not even received the sanction letter of the SAF Games funds. In any case, as we have taken the responsibility, we will have to organize it anyhow," the Chief Minister said, adding that it is to his credit that the State government got the funds required for security purpose released through Union Home Minister Rajth Singh.

The Chief Minister was speaking on the sidelines of a function organized at Rajiv Bhavan at which former All Assam Tribal Sangha general secretary Aditya Khakhlari joined the Congress.