'Tarun Gogoi was my guru': Rahul Gandhi

GUWAHATI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who passed away on Monday, as his guru and teacher.
Rahul arrived in Guwahati to pay tribute to the three-time chief minister. Gogoi died due to multiple organ failure following covid -19 complications.

Gandhi, while talking to reporters, said: "He was like my guru, my teacher. He explained to me like nobody can what Assam is all about. Gaurav is his son, but he treated me like his own son as well. When I used to talk to him, I used to feel like I am not talking to an individual but to the entire state. With him, we have also lost Ahmed Patel ji. They were the pillars of the (Congress) party and it is a very sad day for us. "

Rahul paid floral tribute at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, where body of Gogoi is kept for public to pay last respect.

"His demise was a personal loss to me. Gogoi ji was not just a leader of Assam, he was a national leader, a formidable chief minister. He inspired us by uniting the people of Assam and bringing peace to the state... When I first came to Assam, I was young and roaming freely that I know everything. Then I sat with Gogoi ji and he taught me humility in five minutes... He was the guru who taught his students the art of politics well," he said.

Gogoi will be cremated at Nabagraha crematorium in Guwahati on Thursday.