Teli casts slur on Homen Borgohain, apologises

Bribe to return award !

Congress-AGP slam Dibrugarh MP, embarassed BJP scrambles to repair damage

OUR BUREAU & STAFF CORRESPONDENT

GUWAHATI, Nov 24: Dibrugarh MP Rameswar Teli on Tuesday drew sharp criticism from across the State after he alleged that eminent jourlist and litterateur Homen Borgohain had accepted Rs 10-15 lakh from the Congress for returning his Sahitya Akademy award. The Congress was quick to capitalise on the controversy while the State BJP was left red-faced and scrambling to repair the damage.

Teli was addressing a press conference in Dibrugarh where he levelled the sensatiol allegation against Borgohain. After his words sparked a major row, demands were raised that he should tender an unconditiol apology. State BJP president Sarbanda Sonowal then apologised to Borgohain, admitting that he served a warning to Teli for his outrageous comment.

Later, Teli called up Borgohain and apologized. "I apologize for my comment to respected Homen Borgohain sir and to the people of Assam," a chastened Teli said in front of the media.

A month back, Borgohain had returned the award along with some other eminent writers, film makers and artistes, alleging growing intolerance in the country.

Meanwhile, talking to the media, Borgohain said, "Teli made an irresponsible comment. What good will such irresponsible parliamentarians do to the country? Such politicians are a disgrace to society."

However, BJP tiol general secretary and Assam in-charge Mahendra Singh backed Teli. "Rameswar Teli has spoken the truth. He does not tell lies," said Madhav.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi termed Rameswar Teli's allegation as 'baseless, unfortute and disrespectful'. In a statement here on Tuesday, Gogoi said, "Such an allegation is an insult to the fraternity of jourlism and intelligentsia in our society." While condemning the slur on Borgohain, Gogoi said, "The person who has all along been serving the society by being an honest jourlist and whose integrity is beyond doubt, such a statement is a slur on his towering persolity, who himself is an institution in the field of jourlism."

The Asom Ga Parishad too slammed the BJP MP for his comment. AGP president Atul Bora termed it as unfortute for the Assamese society.