New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday charged acting state Governor P.B. Acharya with behaving “like an RSS pracharak”.
“I have seen reports in the media that Acharya is criticising the state government over the condition of roads and the issue of payment of salaries to teachers,” Gogoi said at a press conference here.
“I do not know if this is correct. But if this is correct, then Acharya is behaving more like an RSS pracharak than a governor,” he said.
The chief minister’s comments come in the wake of reports that Acharya, during a visit to Morigaon district in the state this week, accused the government of remaining a mute spectator to issues like corruption and poor road communication systems in the rural areas.
He also expressed concern over teachers committing suicide allegedly over non-payment of salaries.
Acharya reportedly met officials and representatives of around 20 social organisations and discussed the various problems faced by people in the district.
Gogoi on Friday said Acharya need not talk on the issue of teachers’ salaries.
“Let me tell you, in my time I have regularised the jobs of a record number of teachers,” he said.
As for the condition of roads, the Assam chief minister said the Centre has taken over the responsibility of road construction in the state.
“If the roads are bad then why does not he (Acharya) criticise the government of India?” he asked.
He also referred to Acharya’s earlier criticism of the state government over the killing of rhinos and said, instead, union Minister of State for Environment Prakash Jadvekar was actually taking credit for the decrease in the killing of rhinos in Assam.
“Acharya should remember that he is only the acting governor of the state. He has been appointed governor of Nagaland and has been given additional charge of Assam till a new governor is appointed (in Assam),” Gogoi said.
“Instead of staying in Nagaland, he (Acharya) is staying mostly in Assam. That is because the assembly elections are near,” he claimed.
He also alleged that with Acharya being the chancellor of Dibrugarh University, three RSS pracharaks have been appointed to the university’s court.
“One is a matric pass, one is an ITI diploma holder and a third person has been brought in from Mumbai,” he said.
“We know that Acharya was an RSS pracharak but he should realise that he is a governor now,” Gogoi said.