GUWAHATI, Feb 28 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today described Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as a �statesman� and �visionary�, while accusing NDA�s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi of being �desperate� and an �autocrat� and added that the State government will release a White Paper by mid-March comparing the contributions of the previous NDA and current UPA regimes to Assam.
Briefing newspersons at the State Secretariat here today, Gogoi said, �Modi is an autocrat. Rahul Gandhi is a democrat. Modi is an advocate of RSS�s Hitlerite ideology.�
Terming the recent visit of Gandhi to Assam as a huge success, Gogoi said, �He (Gandhi) is a real visionary. He is a real statesman... Modi is just desperate to secure power.�
He said the White Paper will be released by March 15 so that people can gauge for themselves the performance of the previous NDA and the current UPA governments with regard to contributions for Assam. �The performance record will reveal everything,� Gogoi said.
He said the kind of response Gandhi secured during his road shows, public meetings and interaction during the visit earlier this week is unparalleled in the political history of the State. �It proved that people of Assam have faith in Rahul Gandhi,� he said, adding that after Gandhi�s visit he is more confident of Congress doing well in Assam in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
He castigated Modi for using Gujarat police personnel during his visits to Assam recently.
�Modi does not have faith in our people, our police and even in the State BJP leaders. So he brought police from Gujarat. He only used helicopters to move from one place to another. He has not yet achieved that position where he needs to use helicopters so much. Besides the security situation in Assam is not all that bad,� Gogoi said.
He said Gandhi was frank in admitting that he does not know many things and want to learn from the people. �Rahul Gandhi proved that he is openhearted and sincere. Modi is only shedding crocodile tears. He is acting as if he is PC Sorcar and will solve all problems with magic. Will anybody believe his claim to solve all problems in 60 months? What he talks, only he understands,� Gogoi argued, adding that in social index Assam is way ahead of Gujarat.
He said Modi�s concern for D-Voters in not genuine and Congress has been raising the issue for many years. �But if he really takes up the matter with the Election Commission, I will thank him.�
He also accused Modi of trying to foment split between the people of Brahmaputra and Barak valleys during his speech at the recent BJP rally in Silchar.
�Modi said the NDA regime brought the East-West Corridor to Silchar. That is good, but why also not to Upper Assam. Is Upper Assam not a part of Assam? Now the road will not reach even Sarbananda�s home�,� Gogoi said.
He said unlike BJP, which differentiates between foreigners on the basis of religion, the Congress policy is not to discriminate on religious lines. �They talk about Hindu refugees before the elections but then forget about them afterwards,� Gogoi said.
Asked about his comment comparing Gandhi with Bir Chilarai and Lachit Borphukan, Gogoi said, �I see no reason why anybody should be upset. Chilarai is for everybody, not only for one community. Everybody should have qualities and character of Chilarai and Lachit.�
He said any alliance between AGP and BJP will not impact the ruling party and added there is no place for a Third Front in Assam.
Describing AGP leader PK Mahanta as a �Major General� to Modi�s �Hitler�, Gogoi said the two parties always had good relations. �AGP and BJP have been siblings since long back... Ideologically also, they have similarities.�
