Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today criticised Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for "doing politics in government meetings".
"Politics should be kept out of government meetings. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Sonowal should give a clear picture and not mislead people in government meetings. I know how to fight back and will do so if there is a need for it," Gogoi said at a ceremony of laying foundation of the National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research here.
Gogoi was irked by Sonowal's speech expressing gratefulness to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar for setting up the NIPER campus in Assam, though he also thanked the Chief Minister for giving 89 acres of land for the purpose.
Gogoi, however, hit back saying that nobody had demanded the setting up of NIPER campus in the state but it was he who had the taken initiative in this regard.
"Assam government had given the land in 2009 and I admit the Centre has given the money. It is our duty to cooperate with the centre and they should do the same. Politics should be kept out of government meetings as we have to work together," Gogoi said.
Ironically, Kumar, in his speech, asserted it was the BJP government's policy that there "will no politics in government matters".
The Union Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called him yesterday to convey his best wishes to the people and Chief Minister of Assam and said that he would be more than pleased to inaugurate the NIPER campus when it was ready.
Sonowal, however, did not react on the issue.
