GUWAHATI, July 16 � Former Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLA from Barhampur Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today walked out of the State Assembly in protest against the alleged misleading information supplied by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to the House on the CBI case against the former in the Rs 400-crore Veterinary LoC scam.
The incident took place during the reply of the Chief Minister to the debate on the State Government�s White Paper on development and growth for the period between 2001 and 2010.
Gogoi in course of his speech said that there was no Chief Minister in the country who was sought to be prosecuted by the CBI. He also alleged that even AGP had discarded Mahanta in the face of such a move from the investigating agency. Mahanta could manage to prevent the CBI enquiry against him by making the then Governor not to approve the CBI request for prosecution.
Mahanta tried to refute the assertion made by the Chief Minister and asked the Chair if he would be allowed to speak in defence. The Speaker told the former Chief Minister that he would be allowed to speak in self-defence.
The Chief Minister continued his tirade against the former Chief Minister. Mahanta walked out of the House in protest against the �misleading� assertions of the Chief Minister.
At this point, AGP president and Leader of the Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary and former Transport Minister Pradip Gogoi rose on their feet to register their protest with the Speaker against the Chief Minister using the Assembly to launch attack against their party.
The Chief Minister apologized and withdrew his statement on the issue. He expressed regrets that his comments hurt Mahanta and the latter left the House in a huff. However, he maintained, it is a fact that the then Governor S K Sinha in his book has written that Mahanta was morally and politically responsible for the LoC scam.
Gogoi also announced his readiness to step down as the Chief Minister as well as an MLA, if found involved in the NC Hills (Dima Hasao) District Autonomous Council scam.
