Tarun Gogoi
Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi addressing media persons. Photo credit - Northeast Now

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to destroy the Panchayati Raj system in Assam.

Speaking to media persons here, Gogoi said, “The BJP has been trying to defunct the Panchayati Raj system in Assam, so they are not willing to conduct the panchayat election in the State,” adding, “The State BJP announced earlier that they would hold the panchayat election but they have failed. But now they are taking time to hold the election. Actually, it is clear that the BJP is not willing to hold the panchayat poll in Assam.”

Recently, Gauhati High Court directed the Government to hold the panchayat poll before September 15 this year.

Gogoi said in their tenure, they had held the panchayat election on time by maintaining the democratic fabric of the Indian Constitution. “The Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP Government in Assam in their two-year tenure has failed to hold the panchayat election in Assam. Now, they are not willing to conduct the election,” the former CM said.

The former CM came down heavily on the BJP Government for giving false promises to the people. “The BJP Government has not done any development work. They are only busy in cheap publicity. Before election, they promised many things but after coming to power, they have failed to meet the promises,” Gogoi asserted.

Gogoi added, “Before election, the BJP Government has promised to provide Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six ethnic groups of Assam but till date they have not done anything to provide ST status to the six ethnic groups.” He also accused the BJP-led Government for failing to curb syndicate raj in the State.

Avik Chakraborty is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh. He can be reached at: [email protected]