Dismiss AGP Govt, look into financial irregularities: Cong

“The prevalent state of affairs in Assam is a clear indication that the Mahanta Government is giving top-most priority to remaining in power at any cost, even by sacrificing the interests of the people and the state,” Gogoi said.

The Mahanta Government, despite getting hundreds of crores of rupees from the Centre for providing basic amenities to the common people, had not carried out any developmental work and had siphoned off the funds, Gogoi alleged. “All developmental activities have come to a grinding halt and there is rampant corruption in the ruraldevelopment sector causing great hardship and unemployment among the masses,” he said and asserted that “if compelled by circumstances we are prepared for election.”

He also demanded a high-level probe into the financial irregularities committed by the AGP-led Government and said that the Centre should despatch a team to enquire into these anomalies.

The Congress leader said that the state should be immediately placed under President’s rule and that the state Assembly kept under suspended animation.

Gogoi however refused to pass any remark on the AGP’s internal bickerings, including the move of a section of party leaders to dislodge Chief Minister Mahanta, saying it was not the headache of the Congress.

Referring to reports that the AGP faction led by former PWD minister, Atul Bora, was seeking Congress support to oust Chief Minister Mahanta, the Congress president asserted, “Nobody approached us for support and I am not interested in getting rid of just one AGP man.”

Gogoi also accused thestate government of not taking any serious effort to bring back peace to the strife-torn Kokrajhar area, where clashes between Santhal adivasis and Bodos had left scores dead, and also held the Centre responsible for not taking any positive step in this regard.

When asked to comment on the charges of corruption levelled by Atul Bora against state Assembly Speaker Ganesh Kutum, the Congress president said there should be a probe into the allegations. Gogoi decried the Speaker’s decision to send two journalists to jail for reportedly committing breach of privilege of the Assembly.