Assam governor unhappy with political mudslinging over his comment

GUWAHATI: Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit today expressed displeasure over political mudslinging over his comment on Lachit Borphukan and dragging the Raj Bhavan into it.

Opposition Congress has alleged that Governor praised commander of Ahom kingdom, Lachit Borphukan as the “saviour of Hindutva”.

Lachit is known for his legendary leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat where Mughals were defeated.

Purohit while referring to a Supreme Court judgment of the year 1995 which ruled that “Ordinarily, Hindutva is understood as a way of life or a state of mind and is not to be equated with or understood as religious Hindu fundamentalism . it is a fallacy and an error of law to proceed on the assumption that the use of words Hindutva or Hinduism per se depicts an attitude hostile to all persons practising any religion other than the Hindu religion,”

Purohit said, “Hindutva is always a way of life which stands for the welfare of mankind. I made the comment on Lachit Borphukan and his valiant victory over the Mughals just to draw a simile of triumph of a national hero over the foreign invaders. I made the comment in cognizance of our secular fabric and without any prejudice of any particular faith”.

He detailed that like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Lachit Borphukan was also a crafty and fierce General who refused to let the Mughal rule the State. But very little has been spoken about this legendary Ahom General. “It is a high time we remember and value this great warrior and give him the respect he truly deserves. I without any invitation went to Lachit Maidam to pay tributes to this great hero. It is the Raj Bhavan, which has tried to pay due obeisance to this great hero and popularize him in the National arena”.

The governor added, “It is very unfortunate on the part of a dignified person like the former Chief Minister to make comments without verifying the veracity of my statements. My only objective as a Governor of Assam to stimulate and expedite development of the State and make it an ideal place for all sections of the people, eulogizing the feelings of harmony and universal brotherhood”.

Former Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi had remarked that projecting Lachit as Hindu is grave injustice to the national hero.