Rahul Gandhi pays homage to the veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi

Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid homage to the veteran Congress leader and former CM of Assam Tarun Gogoi at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra on Wednesday.

Rahul Gandhi flew in this morning from Goa to pay his last respect to the leader whom he had described as a "great and wise teacher".

"He inspired us by bringing peace to the state. He did a great service for Assam and a tremendous service for India. I spent many hours with Gogoi Ji. He was my teacher, guru and he explained to me like nobody could, what Assam is, what the people of Assam are, the complexities of the state, the beauty of the state. Gaurav is his son, but he treated me in a similar manner. This is a personal loss for me," Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress leader also said how much Tarun Gogoi loved to talk about Assam.

"We have lost another leader this morning Ahmed Ji, another pillar of the Congress party. So, it is a tragic day for the Congress party," Gandhi added.

Rahul Gandhi laid a wreath along with Gaurav Gogoi, son of Tarun Gogoi, and stood with folded hands at the ceremony to honour the tall leader.

He also visited the official residence of the former Assam Chief Minister and met Gogoi's wife Dolly Gogoi and other family members to express his condolences.

Rahul Gandhi flew back this afternoon.

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