Give up Greediness to End Corruption: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

House discusses virtues of Gandhian philosophy

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has appealed to the people’s representatives to give up greediness to put an end to corruption. Getting this message across from the floor of the State Assembly on Friday, Sonowal also appealed to the people of the State, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, to stay together and lead a life based on hard and sincere work.

The last day of the State Assembly on Friday was devoted to the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. The entire working hours of the session were spent on recalling and reevaluating the virtues of Mahatma Gandhi’s life and philosophy.

Speaking in the House, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Gandhiji is the biggest gift to the world from India. Gandhiji laid stress on cleanliness (swachchata). The people’s representatives of the State should set examples before the public by making cleanliness a reality.”

Sonowal said, “Of late, some road dividers in Guwahati have been painted. We’ve seen some people spitting on them. With such a mentality, how can we pay respects to Gandhiji?”

Deliberating on Gandhiji’s stress on non-violence, truthfulness, rural economy, cottage industries and Panchayati Raj, Sonowal has appealed to all panchayat members to translate Gandhi’s dream of Ram Rajya into a reality. “Every penny released for the development of rural areas should be spent for the intended purpose,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that Gandhi had a special affinity to the Northeast, and it was because of him the region is a part of India. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined the slogan sabka saath, sabka vikash as a mark of respect to the ideology of the Father of the Nation,” he said.

He further said, “Mahatma Gandhi wanted all to give up greediness. Most of the allegations of corruption are against people’s representatives. I appeal to all people’s representatives of the State to give up greediness so as to put an end to corruption. I also appeal to the people of the State, regardless of caste, creed and religion to stay united through hard and sincere work.”

Taking part in the discussion, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, “We need to draw inspirations from Gandhiji’s ideology. His ideology is still relevant as caste, creed and religion are barriers even today. Gandhiji showed the way to drive the all-powerful Britishers from India through non-violence. India is a place where both Gandhiji and Nathuram Godse were born. It’s a matter of question as to why the latter killed the former. Was he inspired by religious beliefs? Even now religion continues to stir up hatred.”

Giving a brief account of the life history of Mahatma Gandhi, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said, “Coming to Sualkuchi in Assam Gandhiji was mesmerized to have seen the floral designs being etched on gamosas by the Assamese weavers.”

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, “The new generation should emulate the philosophy of Gandhiji who wanted to make a new India through non-violence. When the world will adopt non-violence, all world wars and the nuclear race will come to an end.”

Rabiram Narzary of the BPF said, “There’s no room for any discrimination in Gandhian philosophy.”

Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Debabrata Saikia felt that a statue of the Father of the Nation should be installed in the State Assembly complex.

Former Assam Assembly Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi, AGP MLA Brindabon Goswami, BJP MLA Ranjeet Kumar Dass and AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam also spoke and paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi.

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