Gogoi draws flak for 'dancing' when nation is mourning

The Opposition parties in Assam on Wednesday flayed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for taking part in a cultural programme organised as part of a function to inaugurate a hospital and a Polo Club at a tea estate near Kaliabor in Assam’s Nagaon district when the whole country is mourning the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

The Assam Chief Minister visited the Hatikhuli tea estate in Assam’s Nagaon district on Wednesday morning to inaugurate a hospital. The tea estates under the Amalgamated Plantations Pvt ltd are owned by the Tatas.The local television channel in Assam went agog with visuals showing the Chief Minister dancing with a troupe for sometime, which was a part of the cultural programme to welcome the Chief Minister. Gogoi also visited the Hathikuli Tea Estate, the Misa Club and the spice factory before leaving for Guwahati.

“He is an irresponsible Chief Minister. How can he dance and take part in cultural programme when the whole nation is mourning the death of India’s Missile Man and the most popular former President,” said AGP president Atul Bora while saying that Gogoi’s act has shamed the people of Assam in front of the whole nation.

The most popular President of India died at a hospital in Meghalaya capital Shillong on Monday evening. His body was taken to Guwahati on Tuesday and then to New Delhi. High profile dignitaries — including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi — paid their tribute to the former President on Tuesday early morning at the Air Force Station, on the outskirts of Guwahati.

On Tuesday, Gogoi laid a wreath on the casket draped in the Indian Tricolour containing the body of the former President and said, “India has lost a renowned scientist, a super human being and a people’s President. A man of simple living and high thinking, Kalam was a teacher extraordinary who ignited the young minds and wanted to build a vibrant and resilient India through them. His death is an irreparable loss to the whole world and India in particular.”

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharjya condemned the act of Gogoi. “The Chief Minister should not have done this. How can he dance when the nation is mourningIJ Forget about the former President, Gogoi’s bossom friend and former Union Minister BK Handique passed away on last Sunday and how can he dance in such a situationIJ” he asked.

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) also flayed the move of Assam Chief Minister and sais that his action have not only shamed the people of Assam but have hurt the sentiments of the people of the entire country.“The Government of India has announced seven day of national mourning due to the death of the former President. Even the Parliament session had been adjourned for two days. This is not expected from a State Chief Minister.” AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam said.