Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the much-awaited reshuffle of his ministry will be done in January with dropping of “some” existing ministers.
“I have postponed it due to Assembly session beginning this Monday. The portfolio change with new minister coming in will be done in January,” Gogoi told reporters here. Without dropping any hint, he said some existing ministers will be dropped during the reshuffle.
When asked if the Congress high command has approved it, Gogoi said, “I have not given any list to high command yet.” The Chief Minister said many angles have to be considered before inducting a new minister.
“We have to see whether a proper representation of religion, caste, region is there in the Ministry or not. Along with these, efficiency factor must also be there,” he added.
Gogoi also informed the Police Commissionerate system for Guwahati City will be introduced from January and it will follow the Bhubaneswar model.
Talking about the Central government, the Chief Minister said people of Assam voted for BJP during Lok Sabha elections with lots of hopes, but the party has “cheated” them.
“NDA is totally exposed. They showed one face before elections and is now showing another face. They are doing big injustice to Assam and cutting all benefits to the state.
People expected new schemes, but they are withdrawing all old benefits introduced during UPA tenure,” he added.
Gogoi said the BJP-led government is making “U-turn” on every issue and gave examples of withdrawing supply of subsidised foodgrains to tea garden workers and suspension of new proposals under North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP).
“There is no sign of ‘achche din' (good days) for Assam. It is all ‘kharab din' (bad days) for the state,” he added.
Gogoi also charged BJP and RSS of spreading hatred among people and condemned the recent statement of BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj that Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse was a ‘patriot'.
“Nathuram Godse did not have anything personal with Mahatma Gandhi. It is the ideology of Gandhi that Godse did not like and for this, he had killed Gandhi. That ideology still exists and I do not see any difference in BJP's ideology,” he added.
The Chief Minister also said the BJP and its mentor RSS are today talking about that ideology more openly and clearly with an intention to “polarise the Indian society” for vote bank politics.
“But they will not be successful. This is not Indian culture. This is not Hinduism. There is a difference between Hinduism and Hindutva. I believe in Hinduism and I am proud of it. Hinduism is about compassion and tolerance, while Hindutva is intolerance and fundamental,” he added.
On jihadi elements, Gogoi said he appreciated the people of Assam for not supporting such activities.
When asked about reports of arrested Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorist Sahanur Alam's alleged links with some MLAs, he expressed his unawareness and said the government will do an enquiry.
