GUWAHATI, Oct 31 - Congress workers today remembered the contributions of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and paid rich tributes to her at a function held under the presidentship of former Minister Sarat Barkotoky, at the Rajiv Bhawan here on the occasion of her 32nd death anniversary, said a press release.
Addressing the function, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while recalling the contributions of Indira Gandhi to the country and the historic steps she took to alleviate poverty, bank nationalisation etc., said that the Janasangha from which today�s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged, used to oppose such measures of the late Gandhi, who was also a prominent leader of the world of her time.
Today, the BJP government at the Centre has sought to sideline late Gandhi, who embraced death upholding the integrity of the country. This has exposed the meanness of the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.
Gogoi also paid tribute to the memory of Sardar Ballavbhai Patel on his 141st birth anniversary and described his contributions towards the integrity of the country and unity of its people as a source of inspiration.
Addressing the function, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Debabrata Saikia said that Sardar Ballavbhai Patel sought to ban the RSS and now its progeny the BJP has sought to hijack this leader.
It needs mention here that the BJP-led Central government has taken the initiative to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Ballavbhai Patel today as National Unity Day.
The function was also attended by former Chief Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, former MPs Abdul Hamid, Dwijen Sarma, Balin Kauli, former Minister Akan Bora, MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury, Nandita Das and APCC treasurer Jay Kumar Jain, among others, the press release further added.
