Media Has Become the Spokesperson of the Govt: Gaurav Gogoi

Guwahati, September 27, 2019:

“Media has become the spokesperson of the government,” said Assam Congress’ Gaurav Gogoi.

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Criticizing the current scene of media in Assam, Gogoi said, “Today it has become the spokesperson of the current government. It speaks on behalf of the government nowadays.”

Gaurav added, “We say a lot of things in front of the media but they don’t show everything.”

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He alleged that the full statements are not conveyed to the general public.

“Media should be for the public and not the government. It should challenge the ruling party on issues that concern the general public,” suggested Gogoi.

Slamming the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government for the harassment of the Hindu Bengalis in the state after the publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Congress leader asked, “Why should the genuine Indian citizens suffer for the government’s blunder?”

Gaurav added that Bengalis living in Assam are Indians. “Why do they have to prove their citizenship and call themselves ‘Bangladeshi’? Where will they bring all sorts of documents that the government will demand?”

Gogoi said that the government is yet to furnish notifications or guidelines as to how the Assam NRC will be fixed.

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“The authorities will ask for documents and when the Bengalis will be unable to do so, they will be harassed again. Why should the Bengalis suffer? Why should they spend extra money and visit Foreigners’ Tribunals to get their names included in the NRC?” vented Gogoi.

He further alleged that the BJP does not want to solve the 'foreigner' issue. “They don't want a correct NRC because of their self-interest. They only know how to create differences among communities.”

Citing the instances of demand for NRC in every other state in India, Gogoi said, “The BJP wants NRC in every other state except Assam and Tripura. They don’t want NRC in Assam but they want it in Delhi.”

Alleging that the BJP has benefitted only the rich, he said, “We have seen how Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slashed tax to benefit corporates. They have benefitted the rich but increased the petrol-diesel prices for public.”

The Congress leader urged the people of Assam to be aware of government policies.

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