Gogoi detractors demand CLP meeting

The ongoing dissident activities against Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi took a new turn with the anti-Gogoi camp led by health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday demanding a special meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP). One of the legislators of the anti-Gogoi camp, Mr Jayanta Mallah Barauh, told reporters, “We have demanded a special session of the Congress Legislature Party to discuss the ongoing conspiracy against a section of legislators.” Mr Baruah, first time MLA from Nalbari, also announced that they are going to mount pressure for intervention of central party leaders into the ongoing dissension in the CLP. Claiming the support of more than 30 legislators, another leader of the dissident camp and MLA Abu Taher Bepari said, “The present situation has compelled us to demand special CLP. Even after chief minister Tarun Gogoi heading the home department, we are afraid that some one can use our PSOs to create a situation to arrest us.” Another legislator and parliamentary secretary Rekibuddin Ahmed said, “We have not violated any rule by calling for a CLP meeting. We are MLA and have every right to call for a CLP meet.” In an obvious reference to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, he went on saying that they are not going to tolerate “autocracy and atrocity” any more. He claimed that at least 42 legislators of the Congress Legislature Party have demanded special session. “We are also going to write a formal letter to the CLP secretary in this regard,” said Mr Baruah who has been one of the most active members of the dissident camp.