Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said the Centre was playing politics by downgrading his security – his National Security Guard cover was withdrawn. Bharatiya Janata Party leader and current Assam CM Sarbanda Sonowal has been included under the NSG category instead, while Gogoi continues to hold his Z-plus security status, PTI reported.
Gogoi, who was given NSG and Z-plus security when he was elected to office in 2001, said that he had received a letter from the Chief Minister’s Office from the Union Home Ministry about the withdrawal, but no reason was mentioned. However, he told PTI that the state’s top police officers claimed to be unaware of the decision when he contacted them. “How can it be possible that the intimation was forwarded by the CM Office and nobody knows about it?” he said.
Gogoi claimed “I am constantly criticising the anti-people policies of the Modi government and the BJP-led government in the state. That is the only reason for withdrawing my security. Except politics, I don’t see anything.” He added, “Everybody knows how I controlled insurgency or jehadi problems in the state. How is it that till yesterday, I had threat and today not?”
Gogoi also said that other former chief ministers, such as Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, still have NSG cover. The BJP won the Assam Assembly elections for the first time in May 2016, ending a 15-year rule by the Congress under Gogoi.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!