Congress, AGP in war of words

GUWAHATI - Assam’s ruling Congress party and the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) are locked in a bitter confrontation, hurling corruption charges against each other.

The war Wednesday reached the Raj Bhawan with the AGP holding a demonstration demanding a probe into a multi-million rupee financial scam in the North Cachar Hills district.

At the same time, a large group of protestors from the Congress led a demonstration outside the Raj Bhawan demanding a re-probe into a financial scandal in the veterinary department when the AGP ruled Assam.

“The Congress government is involved in a major financial scam and we want a fair and thorough probe by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation),” AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi accused former AGP chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of using his political influence to escape prosecution in a veterinary scam.

The verbal battle is getting increasingly bitter. “I am not at all involved in the scam,” Mahanta said.