Taking a dig at former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 18 said that Gogoi is irrelevant now in the state politics.
Sarma also said that at this age Gogoi should be embracing spirituality and not materialistic things.
“Tarun Gogoi still thinks that he is the chief minister and so he keeps making unnecessary statements. In the 2021 elections, there is no relevance of Tarun Gogoi. I had some issues which I have already shown in 2016. It’s gone now. I’m in neutral gear now. If I meet him now, I will show respect as a senior,” Sarma told reporters during a press conference in Guwahati.
Gogoi, a former three-time chief minister of the state, is 86-year-old and is widely respected across the political parties. He is also one of the most active politicians of the region.
Sarma, who was also health minister under the Gogoi-government during the Congress regime, further said that the former CM should take retirement.
“As per Hinduism, it’s time for sanyas (retirement). We must respect our grandfathers but it doesn’t mean that we should be listening to them every now and then. There has been a huge change in the world. A 90-year-old man can’t advise an 18-year-old student what subject he or she should choose,” Sarma said.
Sarma also slammed Gogoi for expressing his views to ally with AIUDF in the coming assembly elections in the state in 2021.
“Instead of seeking Ram Krishna, Gogoi is looking for Badruddin Ajmal. If you travel across the state, not a single person of his age is involved with the materialistic world. If Tarun Gogoi opens the door for Badruddin Ajmal at Rajiv Bhawan, he will not be in a position to ask Ajmal where to sit. Gogoi is in his 90s, he should remember it,” Sarma added.
Sarma further asked the journalists not to ask any more questions on Gogoi.
