Mahanta lampoons Gogoi, cites Buddha model

Guwahati, Jun 17 (UNI) The feud between Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his predecessor Prafulla Kumar Mahanta seems to inflate, as the latter today lampooning Mr Gogoi's inefficiency in governing the state.

Lauding West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Mr Mahanta told media here,''When Mr Bhattacharjee can attract a litany of investors to his state, why has Mr Gogoi failed to do the same despite ruling the state for the last six years. This clearly manifests his lack of proper approach,'' Lambasting the Congress-led government for 'failing' to contain the recurring incidents of violence, Mr Mahanta said, ''He has maintained silence over the ULFA issue throughout his tenure, and now when we are seeking justice through a democratic forum by demanding application of Article 355, he is out to conceal his inefficacy by drifting from the main issues and raking up other dead ones.'' The former chief minister was apparently referring to the Congress government's indication that it was considering reopening the charges against Mr Mahanta in the letter of credit scam in the state's veterinary department.

''Despite the fact that the same party is ruling both at the Centre and state, contrasting statements of the prime minister and chief minister has further compounded the state's insurgency problem. People here are at the receiving end,'' the two-time chief minister said.

On a specific question regarding to the chief minister's safe passage offer to the ULFA leaders, Mr Mahanta said, ''There is nothing new in it. The question is whether the ULFA would accept it.

If the government has arrived at an understanding with the ULFA, it should come clear.'' He was also sceptical about the government ignoring Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami's bid to bring the outlawed outfit to the negotiating table.

''In case of the NSCN (IM), the Centre has deputed two of its ministers for negotiating with the outfit's leadership. Then why is it that Dr Goswami is not being encouraged, and instead criticised.

This shows the lack of willingness on the pat of the government to solve the ULFA problem,'' he added.

Mr Mahanta, who is the president of the Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive), reiterated his appeal to both the government and the ULFA to come forward to negotiating table to bring an end to the unabated blood bath.

UNI