BJP govt has gone mad, ‘emergency’ in Assam: Akhil

GUWAHATI: The BJP government has gone “mad” and is attempting to create an “emergency-like” situation in Assam, noted RTI activist Akhil Gogoi said after police Thursday registered a sedition case against him for making comments on the citizenship bill.
However, the BJP accused Gogoi of having links with Maoists, being a “professional” agitator and working to fulfill the political agenda of others.
Besides Gogoi, sedition cases were also registered against Sahitya Akademi awardee Assamese litterateur Hiren Gohain and senior journalist Manjit Mahanta for their comments on the bill, a police official said.
“The BJP government has gone mad and is trying to create an emergency-like situation to suppress a spontaneous movement by the people of Assam against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill,” Gogoi, who is also Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) chief, told reporters here.
The KMSS along with its 70 partner organisations is in the forefront of protests against the bill in Assam.
“It is unfortunate that a learned person like Gohain sir has been targeted by the government. I am used to case upon case being filed against me and going to jail has become a lifestyle for me,” Gogoi said.
“I consider it as a matter of honour to be called a ‘deshdrohi’ for trying to protect the interest of the Assamese,” the KMSS leader said.
Gogoi said the BJP is not realising that the protests are now being spearheaded by the people, with all sections coming out disapproving the bill.
“People are protesting to protect the identity and language of the Assamese and the attempts by the government to suppress these protests will not succeed,” the RTI activist said. (PTI)