<p>“Why just call me terrorist, call me a dreaded terrorist or the most wanted terrorist. But my mission is not to terrorise people; it’s to be with the people and solve their grievances,” Gogoi told villagers near the Kaziranga National Park in eastern Assam.<br /><br />A former member of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Gogoi made his political foray as an independent in 1996 from Bokakhat but lost to a Congress candidate. He won in 2001 and 2006 as an independent.<br /><br />“The word terror or terrorist should be re-defined. I am a terrorist, but with a positive connotation as I am always there with my people in their time of need fast and aggressive like terrorists,” Gogoi said in his inimitable style. “If there is a storm and houses are uprooted or there is an accident on the highway in my area, I go there almost instantly with medical teams or with a helping hand.”<br /><br />Gogoi’s secret of winning the two elections is simple. “People love me because I care for them in their times of need. Paresh Baruah (ULFA’s elusive commander-in-chief) would never like to be described as a terrorist, instead he would call himself a social worker or reformer. But I am a dreaded terrorist who works for the people.”<br /><br />Gogoi is pitted against the Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) this time. “Everything would be decided through the ballot, and I am more than 100 per cent confident of winning the polls for the third term,” he said. AGP’s Atul Bora brushed aside Gogoi’s confidence.<br /><br />“People are sick and tired of Jiten Gogoi’s antics and want a change this time. I am sure he will be defeated,” Bora said. Assam goes to the polls on April 4 and 11 to elect a 126-member legislature.<br /></p>
<p>“Why just call me terrorist, call me a dreaded terrorist or the most wanted terrorist. But my mission is not to terrorise people; it’s to be with the people and solve their grievances,” Gogoi told villagers near the Kaziranga National Park in eastern Assam.<br /><br />A former member of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Gogoi made his political foray as an independent in 1996 from Bokakhat but lost to a Congress candidate. He won in 2001 and 2006 as an independent.<br /><br />“The word terror or terrorist should be re-defined. I am a terrorist, but with a positive connotation as I am always there with my people in their time of need fast and aggressive like terrorists,” Gogoi said in his inimitable style. “If there is a storm and houses are uprooted or there is an accident on the highway in my area, I go there almost instantly with medical teams or with a helping hand.”<br /><br />Gogoi’s secret of winning the two elections is simple. “People love me because I care for them in their times of need. Paresh Baruah (ULFA’s elusive commander-in-chief) would never like to be described as a terrorist, instead he would call himself a social worker or reformer. But I am a dreaded terrorist who works for the people.”<br /><br />Gogoi is pitted against the Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) this time. “Everything would be decided through the ballot, and I am more than 100 per cent confident of winning the polls for the third term,” he said. AGP’s Atul Bora brushed aside Gogoi’s confidence.<br /><br />“People are sick and tired of Jiten Gogoi’s antics and want a change this time. I am sure he will be defeated,” Bora said. Assam goes to the polls on April 4 and 11 to elect a 126-member legislature.<br /></p>