RSS running Assam govt, Sonowal is ‘spineless’: Gogoi

Sonowal is spineless. He does not have the power to run the government because it has been made accountable to the RSS. Even chief secretary has to update RSS on the government’s performance

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal is “spineless” and has allowed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to run the BJP-led coalition government in the state, according to his predecessor and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi.

Gogoi’s reaction came after a meeting between Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionaries and state Bharatiya Janata Party leaders with Sonowal, senior ministers and government officials on Thursday evening.

“Sonowal is spineless. He does not have the power to run the government because it has been made accountable to the RSS. Even the chief secretary has to update the RSS on the government’s performance,” Gogoi told reporters on Friday.

The former chief minister accused the RSS of ensuring an extension for chief secretary VK Pipersenia so that he can be the rightwing organisation’s “agent”.

Gogoi also criticised the Sonowal government of promoting RSS icons such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, who he said do not ring a bell for most people in Assam.

“(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and (Bharatiya Janata Party president) Amit Shah had waxed eloquent on (16th century saint-reformer Srimanta) Sankardeva and (Ahom general) Lachit Barphukan before the (state assembly) elections . But after forming the government, the BJP is promoting Hindutva icons who have no place in Assam,” Gogoi said.

Various organisations and outfits, including the All Assam Students’ Union, have panned the Sonowal-led BJP government for deciding to name 22 colleges after RSS stalwart Upadhyaya.