GUWAHATI, Oct 20 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government at the Centre for its double standard in its gesture in honouring the Father of the Nation.
In a statement here today, the Chief Minister said that on one hand when the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is observing �Swachh Bharat� campaign to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi�s birthday, the same government is keeping mum when the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha is installing Nathuram Godse at a higher podium compared to that of the Mahatma as far as patriotism is concerned.
He took a dig at the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha for having decided to celebrate November 15 � the day Godse was hanged � as �Balidan Diwas�. He said Mahatma Gandhi fought against all sorts of oppression and other social evils and led the nation to freedom from the colonial rule of the British imperialists through non-violence.
Gogoi also said Mahatma Gandhi was not only an icon of the country, he was a global leader who stood for unity and integrity and championed the cause of the poor and the down-trodden.
The Centre�s silence on Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha�s plan to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi�s assassin Nathuram Godse�s execution day as �Balidan Diwas� indicates the BJP�s double standard, said the Chief Minister.
