Assam Opp Leader Debabrata Saikia requests govt to build memorial for (L)Tarun Gogoi

GUWAHATI:

Assam Legislative Assembly's Leader of Opposition, Debabrata Saikia has requested the state government to set up a memorial of the three-time chief minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati, who breathed his last at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Monday evening.

In a letter to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Saikia stated that under the leadership of the veteran Congress leader, peace returned to pave the way for the development of the state during his 15-year term as chief minister from 2001 to 2016.

“In 2001, Assam was grappling with an economic crisis, law and order/insurgency problem and secret killings. But his able leadership in the subsequent years has ensured peace and development in the form of new infrastructure, including medical colleges, roads, the new Assam Secretariat complex, etc,” Saikia wrote in the letter.

Also Read: Tarun Gogoi's cremation on Thursday, body to be taken to temple, mosque, church

“Therefore, it is the responsibility of the state government to honour the departed leader to keep his memory alive. Hence I request you to build a memorial at a suitable cremation site to keep his contributions and ideals alive in future."

Sources inform that the cremation of the 86 year-old veteran Congress leader would take place in Guwahati on Thursday although the venue is yet to be decided.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the former Assam chief minister were taken out of GMCH on a covered vehicle, adorned with flowers and pictures, to his official residence at Minister’s Colony in Dispur on Monday morning.

Also Read: Assam to observe 3-day state mourning in honour of Tarun Gogoi

Debabrata Saikia, Gogoi’s son and Rajya Sabha MP, Gaurav Gogoi, APCC president Ripun Bora, MLAs Rakibul Hussain, Rekibuddin Ahmed, Rupjyoti Kurmi, besides other leaders/members of the party were seen accompanying the mortal remains to the former chief minister’s official residence.

A sea of people took part in the procession. Gogoi's wife Dolly Gogoi, daughter Chandrima, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, other family members, political leaders, personalities and citizens paid their last respects to the departed leader.

The mortal remains of Gogoi will subsequently be taken to Janata Bhawan (Secretariat) and the Assam Congress headquarters at Rajiv Bhawan on Tuesday afternoon before being kept at the Sankardev Kalakshetra in the evening for another day for people to pay their last respects.