HT Correspondent
GUWAHATI, May 24: Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah’s letter to Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi for his critical remarks against Congress leaders has sparked a new controversy in the state.
Gogoi earlier stated that many Congress leaders remained inactive during the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll campaign in the state. He also asserted that grassroots workers and leaders from allied parties gave their best during the election.
The remarks made by the Sivasagar legislator drew criticism from various ranks of the Congress party in the state.
Borah told reporters on Friday, “I have received many calls from Congress party workers after Akhil Gogoi’s statement. That is why I have written a letter to him, saying that Congress leaders put their best effort to take on the BJP despite our several limitations.”
He also emphasised the importance of maintaining transparent relationships, whether friendly or adversarial.
“If I call somebody my friend, then the friendship with him must be pure. The same is true for enemies as well,” Borah said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition leader in the Assam assembly, Debabrata Saikia, also distanced himself from Akhil Gogoi’s statement.
He said, “We had funding issues during the campaign as the BJP had frozen the party accounts demanding Rs 4000 crores. Despite that, Congress leaders engaged in strong contests with the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, I denounce Akhil Gogoi’s claim that Congress leaders did not campaign vigorously. This is not true.”
However, Saikia asserted that Akhil Gogoi is Congress’ friend and BJP’s enemy.
“He is BJP’s foe. Akhil Gogoi campaigned for the Congress candidates in Dhubri, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Nagaon. He extensively campaigned for Rakibul Hussain in the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat, which has proved beneficial for us,” Saikia said.
The Opposition leader also dismissed Akhil Gogoi’s remark that Saikia may quit Congress in the coming days.
“I am not going anywhere. I am a devoted party worker of Congress,” he added.
