Modi's comments on Gogoi 'undignified': Manish Tiwari

Guwahati, Mar 28: Congress on Monday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment on Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's advancing age as "undignified".

"It was a very undignified statement from a Prime Minister. Gogoi was made Chief Minister by the people of Assam, not Modi. Who is he to judge whether Gogoi should be made CM or not?" Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari told reporters here.

He was responding to PM Modi's comment at an election rally on Saturday where the latter had brought up the issue of the Assam CM's age, saying, "Gogoi ji, in a few years you will be 90 years. You are my elder. I come to Assam to (offer) pranam to you and not fight with you". According to the affidavit filed for the upcoming Assembly election, Gogoi's age is about "79 years".

Tiwari said there is no substance in Modi's statements which was full of "rhetorics". "Except rhetoric and unsubstantial statements, the PM does not have anything to say. In the last 22 months, he has not fulfilled a single promise made to the people of Assam," he said.

On the other hand, he has only discriminated Assam, Tiwari claimed. "We have only seen economic morass, insecurity on border and instability on political front," he added.

Tiwari alleged that Modi is giving false promises to the people of Assam solely to garner votes.

"BJP will be responsible for complete political and economic breakdown of Assam, God forbid, if people of Assam make a wrong decision," the Congress leader said.

Tiwari said, going by the last 22 months' national experience, "I appeal to the people of Assam to vote for a Congress government for the fourth term."

PTI