Watch: Tarun Gogoi 'Architect of Modern Assam': Himanta Biswa Sarma on his mentor
Fondly remembering his over two-decades association with former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that the state lost the 'Architect of Modern Assam'. Sarma said that he had the opportunity to work with Gogoi not just as a Congress party worker but he also got the opportunity to serve as a minister in Gogoi's cabinet.
"Tarun Gogoi represented a generation of leaders. His demise marks the end of an era. Till the end, even in his hospital bed he followed the Bihar elections results very closely. He was meant for politics, he had dedicated his whole life to politics", Sarma said adding that he had personally called up the late Congress leader and said that it might not be advisable for a senior person like him to step out during these COVID times.
Gogoi was seen attending a lot of political rallies organized by the Congress party till he tested positive for COVID in August.
Sarma said that the people of Assam would definitely remember the great leader for several initiatives taken by him and the contribution he made towards the following:
Bringing in peace and security to the state at a time when lawlessness, secret killings and militancy was the law of the land.
Bringing in financial and social security for the people of the state
Organising National Games
Setting up of the Jorhat Medical College
Fixing the poor roads and infrastructure of the state.
Minister Sarma was known to be the blue-eyed boy of Gogoi till they fell apart, Sarma rebelled against Gogoi and switched to the saffron party.
Minister Sarma was speaking at the funeral of the state's longest serving Chief Minister that was held in Navagraha crematorium on Thursday (November 26).
After having worked with former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for several years as part of the Congress party and as a minister in Gogoi's cabinet till he joined BJP in 2015, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday