GUWAHATI, April 12 - The Sarbananda Sonowal-led government that came to power with promises of bringing �parivartan�, including a promise to tackle corruption and nepotism, seems to have lost its way within less a year of assuming charge with an official at the office of a senior Cabinet minister offering cash to journalists as �Bihu gift� in the name of the minister today.
And the entire incident happened inside the official residence of the senior minister.
A number of journalists, including the Staff Reporter of The Assam Tribune, had been invited for a briefing by the minister this morning.
As the group of scribes were about to enter the minister�s residential office, an official approached the group and offered them some notes of Rs 2,000
denomination stating that it was a �Bihu gift from the minister�.
Some of the journalists, including The Assam Tribune Staff Reporter, took strong exception to the behaviour of the official and his blatant attempt to give them cash in the name of �Bihu gift�.
Our Staff Reporter told the official not to indulge in such practices and not to attempt to tarnish the reputation of the profession of journalism.
It is expected that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will look into the issue and take steps to curb such practices in future.