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Tarun Gogoi[/caption]
New Delhi/Guwahati, June 27 (PTI): Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday was not allowed to hold a press meet at the Assam House in the national capital as he had no prior permission but he later addressed the journalists near the road outside the complex.
Gogoi had called the press conference in his room at the Assam House, where he was staying in Delhi.
However, the authorities did not allow the event to proceed even as the mediapersons reached the spot.
The Resident Commissioner cited a government circular that makes prior permission mandatory for holding any media event.
Later, the three-time octogenarian former Chief Minister came out and addressed the media outside the Assam House complex standing on the road.
Gogoi lashed out at the Assam government saying not allowing him to speak to journalists was an "attempt to sabotage democratic voices".
He said his main motive is to convey the sentiments of the Assam Congress that Rahul Gandhi should continue as the party's president.
The state Congress strongly condemned the Assam government for denying permission to Gogoi and termed the action as "autocratic".
"Why is the Sonowal government so scared? Failing to fulfill peoples' aspirations, the government is resorting to all sorts of undemocratic actions," Assam Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Rhituparna Konwar said.
Cong. hits out at BJP for not allowing Gogoi
The Opposition Congress in Assam on Thursday slammed the BJP-led government in the state for not allowing former chief minister Tarun Gogoi to address a press conference in his room in Assam House in New Delhi.
The former three-time Assam Chief Minister wanted to interact with a few electronic media journalists in his room on Thursday. The Assam House officials, however, did not allow him, forcing him to address the media on the streets in front of the Assam House.
"This is undemocratic. There is no rule which restricts holding of press conferences in Assam House," said APCC spokesperson Rituparna Konwar.
Gogoi was in Delhi and was staying in the Assam House.
"When Gogoi asked the Principal Resident Commissioner of Assam House the reasons for not allowing him to hold the press conference, he cited a government order. The officer, however, failed to show the copy of the order", said Konwar.
"Why is the BJP so scared of Congress and Tarun Gogoi? If BJP leaders think they can silence the opposition like this, they are living in a fool's paradise," said Konwar.