Tarun Gogoi targets Narendra Modi, terms Bihar verdict as victory of secular forces

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday congratulated the people of Bihar for the grand victory of JDU-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar assembly elections.

In statement Mr Gogoi said that the people of Bihar gave overwhelming mandate in favour of the grand alliance at a time when intolerance and hatred are on the rise. Terming the verdict as victory of secular, progressive forces, Mr Gogoi said, “At a time when communal and divisive forces are on the rise, the verdict of the people of Bihar is a resounding victory of secular, progressive forces.”

Mr Gogoi further said that the victory has proved that the great ancient Indian civilisation with its inherent pluralism, unity in diversity and assimilation could not be assailed by divisive, communal and Hindutva fundamentalist forces spearheaded by RSS. “The Bihar elections which is a decisive victory of secular, progressive forces has come at a time when various sinister forces are at work to tear asunder the social fabric. The verdict will bolster the efforts of the secular, progressive forces in taking up the cudgel against communal and fissiparous forces and thus further strengthen the edifice of Indian civilization,” he added.

Mr Gogoi also said that the victory of the grand alliance at the hustings has exposed the hollowness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development poll plank. “The people of Bihar had seen what acche din the Modi-led Government had promised to usher in failed to see the light of the day. The BJP and its allies' efforts to lure people with largesse failed as the people of Bihar could see through their gameplan and gave a resounding mandate against them,” he said adding that during the tenure of the present dispensation no state could make any progress. Extending heartiest congratulations to Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the grand victory that upset BJP's applecart, Mr Gogoi said, “I am very delighted to witness the grand victory of the grand alliance at the hustings. They spearheaded the campaign against the most powerful alliance headed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sushil Modi and others as well as Hindutva elements like that of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. I hope the people of Bihar will rally around Nitish Kumar and strengthen his hands to embolden the secular, progressive forces in the days ahead."