GUWAHATI: Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi dared Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to establish his points regarding the latter's recent comment on elected MLAs' duties and power.
On Thursday, addressing a press meet the independent MLA claimed that the duties of elected MLAs are not limited to making of legislation as said by the Chief Minister. " The Consitution of India does not clearly define the duties of the MLAs. But that does not mean that the MLAs lack executive powers," Gogoi said.
He also pointed out that the Supreme Court of India made an observation on the power and duties of the MLAs in 2017. " The Supreme Court's observation has made it clear that the MLAs are bestowed with the power of Executive, Legislative, Financial and Electoral. I dare Chief Minister Sarma to establish his claim with facts. I also want to know where he has found that the elected MLAs are not given Executive power.", he added. Gogoi also urged other Assam MLAs to protest against the comment of the Chief Minister.
Independent MLA Gogoi, who is elected to the Assam assembly for the first time from the Sivasagar constituency, further said he could bring development to his constituency if the BJP-led state government remains absent from creating hindrance.
The former KMSS leader and the current president of the Raijor Dal were released from jail recently after the special NIA court quashed charges against him. He was arrested during the 2019 CAA protest in Assam. From then he was kept in jail.
Gogoi also lambasted Chief Minister Sarma's recent comment on Shyama Prasad Mukharjee accrediting the latter as the founder of the Assamese department at the Calcutta University.
Gogoi said Dr. Ashutush Mukharjee, father of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, was the founder of the Calcutta University's Assamese department. "The Chief Minister should not make such false of a misleading claim or comment publicly".
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