Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday termed as “most unfortunate” Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu’s comment that the Assam Government’s action against the agitating state BJP leaders and workers was ‘display of intolerance’.
The present state government has been according respect to democratic protests as such rights exist in a democratic polity like India, Gogoi said in a statement here.
“Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu being a Parliamentary Affairs Minister must know that it is undemocratic to storm a House when the session is on,” he said, adding, “Naidu must make it clear whether a Government can be a mute spectator when attempts are being made to disturb the law and order situation”.
Gogoi said the support extended by Naidu to the ‘violent protestors’ has only brought to the fore that he himself has taken a stand of intolerance towards democratic practice.
“Naidu must explain whether a democratically elected Government can watch silently with protestors on the rampage trying to storm the House? Will he allow protestors to gherao Parliament? The rule of law must prevail.
No one can hold the state to ransom,” he added.