Gogoi

Guwahati, Jan. 29: The Congress high command has advised chief minister Tarun Gogoi to relinquish the home portfolio to enable him to focus on other areas.

Sources said with panchayat elections round the corner, the high command wants Gogoi to focus on development activities. The order was conveyed to him over phone on Friday. “The high command is of the opinion that Gogoi is overburdened with several departments and in the prevailing situation, he should quit home (portfolio),” a source close to him said.

According to him, the chief minister, too, had accepted the suggestion and might hand over the portfolio to somebody else “one of these days.”

He said Rockybul Hussain was one of Gogoi’s choices as he was in charge of the home department during Gogoi’s previous term and was in the know of things about the functioning of the department.

Besides, sources said, the move would “please” the minorities who have of late been disenchanted with the Congress.Senior party leader Mohsina Kidwai was said to have recommended Hussain’s name but it was not accepted, sources said. Besides home, Gogoi holds finance, PWD and sports departments.

Confirming the development, AICC sources said the idea was mooted after the Ulfa carnage. “We feel that someone with less workload should take over the home department in the run-up to the 33rd National Games.”

“We want Gogoi’s involvement to bolster the party’s image and help in campaign efforts after the recent bloodbath that has sullied the party’s image. Ulfa has also started targeting our workers who play a crucial role during the panchayat elections. Gogoi must be by their side during this hour of crisis.”

Mahanta issue

Tarun Gogoi has apparently reversed the stand taken by his government on the “secret killings” case, reports our special correspondent in New Delhi.

Gogoi today said he has not pronounced former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta innocent. “When we have set up a commission, how can one say we have given a clean chit?” the chief minister asked. An affidavit filed by the Assam government recently in response to a PIL against Mahanta in the Supreme Court stated that the allegations on “secret killings” between 1998 and 2001 are all “false and untenable”.