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Tarun Gogoi passes away!

The former Assam chief minister will be remembered for his compassion and commitment to harmony

Image Courtesy:thenewsminute.com

On Monday, Assam lost one of its best-known political leaders when Tarun Gogoi passed away. Born in Jorhat on April 1, 1936, Gogoi went on to become the face of the Congress party in Assam, and was the state’s longest serving chief minister from 2001 to 2016.

Top political leaders across party lines have condoled his passing:

 

 

 

 

 

Tarun Gogoi is perhaps best remembered for pulling Assam back from the brink of financial ruin when he took charge in 2001. During his 15-year tenure as Chief Minister, Gogoi also contributed significantly to helping reduce insurgency and violence in the state.

In 2005, when over 5 lakh migrant labourers were allegedly thrown out of Arunachal Pradesh on suspicions of being ‘outsiders’, it was Gogoi who had their citizenship verified and ensured that they were able to go back home safely. In fact, to make sure that people, especially ethno-chauvinistic students’ groups, did not harbour any animosity towards these migrant workers, he had their names and states of origin published prominently in major publications in the state. Something that helped allay fears in a state where a large majority of people believe that illegal Bangladeshi migrants have entered the state and are trying to change the demography of Assam, a belief that led to the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985 that in turn paved the way for the update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

In 2013, he ensured all eligible voters got their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), another step towards resolving deep-seated issues surrounding the volatile citizenship situation in Assam.

With him gone and a crucial election coming up, the Congress and other opposition parties are left virtually rudderless in the state.

Related:

BJP will prepare NRC again if it comes to power in 2021: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister openly rejects NRC

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