For India: Even a flat (with 3+ bedrooms) could cost crores of rupees in the metropolitan cities in India. Even ordinary people like us talk in lakhs, if not in crores. For the US: For 2 professionals having 2 houses (especially in the NE part where real estate carries an inflated rate) of 3+ million dollars is not a big issue.
So, here or there, if people forget to see the amount, then only will this become a sensational news. > >> "See how large hearted he is! > >> He allows his henchman to take 4000Crores and he keeps only 18 > >> crores as small tips." I really heard that TG himself is a good man, probably not a good administrator? But only during his tenure I've heard of the government giving away computers to the 1st division holders, regardless of their class or caster, instead of all scholarships going to different categories in olden days. But i don't live there to see or feel everyday's happenings, so I can't say much. But I also see that 'lonkaloi jiyei jaai, xiyei Ravan hoi' or amonst all corrupted hayenas, an honest and innocent fella can't survive for long, literally. So, again, I won't know. > From: cmaha...@gmail.com > Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 13:41:27 -0600 > To: assam@assamnet.org > Subject: Re: [Assam] ‘Gogoi family has Rs 18-crore property in US’ > > > What was surprising (according to the news) is that some NRI's gave Akhil > > Gogoi the low-down on this. > > > *** We all know that not all NRIs are equal :-). We also know of our folks' > pervasive colonial-serfdom-inspired awe of NRIs is quite unfounded. > > > >And this is how huge mountains are made out of molehills. :-). > > *** Personally, I won't jump to any conclusion, yet :-). > > *** It will be interesting to see IF any of these listed properties actually > are titled to Trun Gogoi or his wife. If they are NOT, there is little > chance that Akhil Gogoi will be able to nail Tarun Gogoi on this. > My gut feel is that nobody is so careless, particularly those on the take. > > > > On Jan 9, 2011, at 1:17 PM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: > > > Exactly my sentiments, C'da. When I saw the news item, and later this > > forwarded here, I felt that at the very least there was a huge > > misunderstanding of $ & cents, and how acquiring easy home loans is in this > > country. The amounts are small as you put it. > > > > What was surprising (according to the news) is that some NRI's gave Akhil > > Gogoi the low-down on this. > > > > And this is how huge mountains are made out of molehills. :-). > > > > --Ram > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 12:56 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmaha...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> I did a little quick math and the total value of these houses , approx. 18 > >> crore rupees, is really a puny > >> amount by local standards, as far as housing value goes, $ 500,000 or so. A > >> 3 BR. condominium > >> like the one at Mountain View CA, itself would be almost 1.5 to 2 times the > >> combined value of > >> the three ( or is it four) houses/condos's reported value ( $ 600,000 to $ > >> 1,000,000). > >> > >> So, for one thing, the reported values mean little. For another, that CM > >> Gogoi's son-in-law, > >> from published accounts a Google executive, probably makes enough on HIS > >> OWN to be able to > >> afford a $ 1,000,000 loan on one ( or a collection of houses) described > >> here. People buy houses > >> with long-term loans here, not with hard cash. > >> > >> Therefore, the value of the houses described could NOT be construed to > >> point to the notion > >> of assets disproportionate to the son-in-law's assets, leading to casting > >> aspersions on CM Gogoi > >> or his wife being the financiers, from legitimate or corrupt sources. > >> > >> That may be the good news for CM Gogoi and his wife. > >> > >> The bad news probably lies elsewhere: the Ownership of the houses. Who > >> is/are the Owners of these > >> houses? The daughter and the son-in-law? The CM or his wife? > >> > >> Why that matters are: > >> > >> A: The son-in-law and the daughter are US residents, if not citizens. He > >> probably earns enough, and she may too, > >> to add to a tidy amount to be able to get a pretty good sized loan for a > >> house in a high market value area like > >> Mountatin View, California and Cambridge, MA ( home to MIT and Harvard > >> etc.). But not so for foreigners, like > >> Tarun Gogoi or his wife, UNLESS they also have US Permanent Resident Visas > >> ( Green Cards. They could > >> however. That would be interesting to know if they do. Somebody should ask > >> the CM that question. > >> > >> B: If they are not green-card holders, they probably bought them for cash. > >> There is no reason for the son-in-law or > >> daughter to purchase houses, on loan, for TG or his wife. If any of these > >> houses were bought with cash ( not on loan), that > >> will be a good indication that someone other than the son-in-law or the > >> daughter provided the cash. Be it the CM , or his wife, > >> or some Hawala trader or some business owner or whoever. > >> > >> This could be easily verified from publicly available info. The > >> lien-holders' names will be on the Titles of these houses > >> if they are purchased with bank loans. > >> > >> > >> Finally, EVEN if these houses were bought for cash and from corrupt > >> sources, the amounts are small fry, compared to those > >> talked about in reference to Himanta Sarma for one. I am sure there are > >> others. In that I agree with MM's view: > >> > >> "See how large hearted he is! > >> He allows his henchman to take 4000Crores and he keeps only 18 > >> crores as small tips." > >> > >> > >> Just kidding! > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Jan 8, 2011, at 11:52 PM, Nava Thakuria wrote: > >> > >>> > >>> Gogoi involved in embezzlement: KMSS > >>> > >>> GUWAHATI, Jan 8 – Peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti today > >>> alleged that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is involved in embezzling the > >> public > >>> money of the State and part of the money laundered by him has been > >> siphoned off > >>> to the US to procure property there in the names of members of his > >> family. > >>> > >>> > >>> ‘Gogoi family has Rs 18-crore property in US’ > >>> The peasant organisation also demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegation > >> and > >>> dared the Chief Minister to make a public statement on the source of the > >> money > >>> used in procuring property in the US. > >>> > >>> Addressing mediapersons at a press conference here this afternoon, KMSS > >>> secretary Akhil Gogoi alleged that the Chief Minister has several houses > >> in the > >>> US in the names of his wife Dolly Gogoi (12700 W Dodge Road, Omaha NE > >> 69154), > >>> daughter Chandrima Gogoi (701 Berry Ave, Los Angeles C A 94024) and > >> son-in-law > >>> Prasenjit Phukan (178 Ownes Ct Mountain View C A 94043; 143 Albany St, > >> Cambridge > >>> MA 02139 and Los Altos CA 94022). > >>> > >>> The money value of these houses when added together would be Rs 17, 88, > >> 45, 050. > >>> His daughter had declared while acquiring the property that her average > >> annual > >>> income was Rs 64, 42, 650, while her husband Prasenjit Phukan had made > >> three > >>> declarations stating that his average annual incomes were Rs 64, 42, 650, > >> Rs 34, > >>> 36,050 and Rs 72, 71, 250. Chief Minster's wife Dolly Gogoi declared that > >> her > >>> average annual income was Rs 29, 18, 650. > >>> > >>> The peasant organisation alleged that the Chief Minister requisitioned > >> the > >>> services of his 'scam-tainted' Ministerial colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma > >> to > >>> transfer part of the looted money to the US through hawala. This is why > >> the > >>> Chief Minister has so far been maintaining silence over the issue of > >> Himanta > >>> Biswa Sarma embezzling the public money of the State. > >>> > >>> The peasant organisation has collected the information concerning the US > >>> property of the Chief Minister's family by using the website intelius. > >> com, said > >>> the KMSS secretary. > >>> > >>> It has hit out at Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief > >> Bhubaneswar > >>> Kalita for his 'halfhearted approach' in the matter of the corruption > >> indulged > >>> in by Himanta Biswa Sarma. > >>> > >>> The peasant organisation is holding a massive demonstration against > >> corruption > >>> at the Dispur Last Gate from 11 am on January 10 and it has appealled to > >> all > >>> patriotic people to take part in the programme. Noted RTI activist Arvind > >>> Kezriwal and national convenor of the National Alliance of People's > >> Movement Dr > >>> Sandip Pandey will take part in the demonstration, said the KMSS > >> secretary. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> GUWAHATI, Jan 8: Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister Tarun > >> Gogoi, > >>> Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi today > >> gave a > >>> detailed account of property worth around Rs 18 crore in the form of > >> houses > >>> owned by the Chief Minister’s wife, daughter and son-in-law in the US. > >> The KMSS > >>> leader has dared the three to disclose their sources of income. He has > >> also > >>> demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter in order to unmask the truth. > >>> Addressing a press conference at the Guwahati Press Club today, the KMSS > >> leader > >>> said: “According to documents produced by Gogoi’s wife Dolly Gogoi and > >> daughter > >>> Chandrima Gogoi while purchasing one house each in the US, their annual > >> incomes > >>> are Rs 29.18 lakh and Rs 64.42 lakh respectively. Gogoi’s son-in-law > >> Prasenjit > >>> Phukan, however, showed three different annual incomes — Rs 64.42 lakh, > >> Rs 34.36 > >>> lakh and Rs 72.71 lakh — while purchasing three different houses in the > >> US. I > >>> appeal to the three to make their sources of annual income public.” > >>> “We have no way out but to unmask the Chief Minister who has not paid any > >> heed > >>> to the deadline set by us for him to take action against his corrupt > >> Cabinet > >>> colleague, Himanta Biswa Sarma. It was followed by a 48-hour deadline set > >> by us > >>> for Gogoi to reply as to why he was not taking any action against the > >> corrupt > >>> minister though we had brought many corrupt practices of the minister to > >> light. > >>> We have to open our mouth today as the deadline set for the Chief > >> Minister is > >>> over,” Akhil Gogoi said, and added that minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was > >> the key > >>> man behind all the scams that had taken place during the tenure of Tarun > >> Gogoi. > >>> “Though we have exposed all the corrupt practices of Himanta Biswa Sarma, > >> Gogoi > >>> doesn’t take action against him as he is afraid of being unmasked if the > >>> minister opens his mouth.” > >>> The KMSS leader said: “Since when we have started our tirade against > >> corruption, > >>> people, including those staying abroad, have started to come on their own > >> and > >>> feed us with information. With the information received from NRIs, we > >> have > >>> approached the US embassy that has shown us the way to proceed. By making > >> online > >>> payment through a website (www.intelius.com) by credit cards, we have > >> got access > >>> to the documents of purchase of the houses by the family members of the > >> Chief > >>> Minister.” > >>> The KMSS leader further said that apprehensive of being blackmailed by > >> Himanta > >>> Biswa Sarma, Gogoi ‘‘is now trying to keep Sarma at a safe distance from > >> all > >>> matters relating to the State administration’’. Himanta Biswa Sarma, > >> according > >>> to the KMSS leader, is the key man behind sending the ill-gotten money > >> from the > >>> State to foreign countries through hawala. “We will soon file cases > >> against > >>> Sarma in the Supreme Court and the High Court,” he added. > >>> > >>> Coming down heavily on Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president > >>> Bhubaneswar Kalita, Akhil Gogoi said: “The Congress has failed to take > >> action > >>> against corrupt Himanta Biswa Sarma due to the weak leadership of > >> Kalita.” He > >>> also took a dig at the opposition parties by saying that despite the KMSS > >>> exposing a large number of corrupt practices of the State Government, the > >>> Opposition had failed to put adequate pressure on the government to act > >> against > >>> corrupt ministers. > >>> Meanwhile, reacting to Akhil Gogoi’s revelations, AGP president Chandra > >> Mohan > >>> Patowary said: “Last year, the Chief Minister had announced that his > >> government > >>> would construct houses for flood- and erosion-affected people of the > >> State. > >>> Though the erosion-affected people have not got the promised houses, > >> Gogoi has > >>> successfully built a number of houses in the US. This is the real man > >> hiding > >>> within ‘clean’ Gogoi.” > >>> > >>> Akhil dares CM to reveal assets- RTI activist demands CBI inquiry > >>> > >>> Akhil Gogoi shows a photograph of Tarun Gogoi’s property in the US at the > >> press > >>> conference. Picture by Eastern Projections > >>> > >>> Guwahati, Jan. 8: Peasant leader and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi today > >> claimed that > >>> family members and relatives of chief minister Tarun Gogoi possessed > >> property > >>> worth over Rs 17 crore in the US and dared the latter to make public the > >> sources > >>> of the assets, including five houses. > >>> Akhil, also the general secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), > >> said > >>> there were five houses in the name of the chief minister’s wife Dolly > >> Gogoi, > >>> daughter Chandrima and son-in-law Prasenjit Phukan at different locations > >> in the > >>> US. > >>> > >>> “The information collected by us showed that there was a house in the > >> name of > >>> Dolly Gogoi at Omaha and another at Los Altos in his daughter’s name. > >> Three > >>> houses in the name of his son-in-law Prasenjit Phukan are located at > >> Cambridge, > >>> Mountain View and Los Altos. We have strong suspicion that the property > >> was > >>> procured with public money and hence we dare the chief minister to let > >> the > >>> people of Assam know the source. We also demand a CBI inquiry into the > >> assets,” > >>> Akhil Gogoi said at a press conference. > >>> Giving details and producing photographs of the houses, Akhil said the > >> People’s > >>> Interest Research Group, formed by the KMSS, collected the information > >> with the > >>> help of the American embassy and an information commerce company, > >> intelius.com, > >>> which provides consumers and businesses with predictive intelligence for > >>> important decisions. > >>> The chief minister’s office said Gogoi would comment after his return > >> from New > >>> Delhi. Media adviser Debo Bora told The Telegraph, “The chief minister > >> will > >>> react once he is back.” > >>> Akhil alleged that huge corruption had taken place during Gogoi’s tenure. > >> “The > >>> Congress high command, including Sonia Gandhi, has been claiming that the > >> party > >>> is committed to fight corruption but we have seen no action against > >> Gogoi, > >>> health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other ministers involved in scams > >> in > >>> Dima Hasao district, Karbi Anglong and other departments,” the RTI > >> activist > >>> said. > >>> Akhil, also the recipient of two national RTI awards, said they would > >> launch a > >>> massive campaign against the Tarun Gogoi government ahead of the > >> forthcoming > >>> Assembly elections. > >>> “We will organise a dharna and observe a hatred day on Monday at Dispur > >> Last > >>> Gate to protest the massive corruption. Activist Sandip Pandey and Arvin > >>> Kejriwal will take part and we request all concerned citizens to join us > >> and > >>> protest the corruption of the Congress government in Assam,” he said. > >>> Akhil said four cases would be filed against Himanta Biswa Sarma and > >> Tarun Gogoi > >>> in the Supreme Court and Gauhati High court soon relating to > >> disproportionate > >>> assets and criminal cases. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> assam mailing list > >>> assam@assamnet.org > >>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> assam mailing list > >> assam@assamnet.org > >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > assam mailing list > > assam@assamnet.org > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > assam@assamnet.org > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
