"Tarun Gogoi would bite his lower lip when he was angry": Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi recalls fond memories of ex-CM

GUWAHATI: Congress MP from Nagaon Pradyut Bordoloi today said that former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had a hallmark style of biting his lower lips whenever he was extremely angry. Bordoloi, sharing this quirk about the Congress leader who passed away recently, added that he was otherwise "very cooperative" to the young Congress brigade that rose to prominence during his 3 consecutive tenures as the Chief Minister of the State.

"Supposing a discussion was going on, he would usually be composed. But the moment he bit his lower lip, we knew he would flare up and we would duck for cover. Every time he would get angry, he would bite his lower lip on the corner," Bordoloi said, recalling the veteran leader.

Recalling his experience of meeting Gogoi, Bordoloi said he was 17-years-old and a student of Cotton College when he became familiar with the man, who was already an MP back then. "He literally held my hand and took me along in the Congress party. He gave us a priceless exposure," Bordoloi said.

ALSO READ: Nagaland: 16 days of activism against gender-based violence underway in State

The MP also said that Gogoi was less a politician and more a 'social scientist'. "Assam is a very complex state because there is a proliferation of the ethnic communities and pluralism has been the hallmark of the Assamese society. However, he could take the state along in the path of peace and progress."

Upon being asked how Tarun Gogoi managed to get funds from the NDA Government after assuming charge, Bordoloi said that Assam was "bankrupt" when Gogoi took charge as CM. "However, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was very magnanimous and Gogoi convinced him that this was the way to bring Assam into the mainstream. Thankfully, Vajpayee gave the olive branch and released the funds."

Bordoloi also lauded the deceased Chief Minister for encouraging the youth and giving them a platform.

3-time former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi’s mortal remains have finally reached the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati’s Panjabari area, where thousands upon thousands of admirers have reached to pay their last tributes to the popular leader.

After brief halts at his official residence, the Assam Secretariat, and the Assam Congress headquarters, around 6:40 PM in the evening, the mortal remains were taken to the cultural institution on the wishes of his family members. According to Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Ripun Bora, former CM’s son Gaurav had reportedly conveyed that the remains of the Congress stalwart be kept at the Kalakshetra.

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:                                                                  

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.