GUWAHATI: Assam Police has registered a case against Forum Against Citizenship Act Amendment Bill (FACAAB) chairman and intellectual, Hiren Gohain, on charges of “sedition” while speaking at a public rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The suo motu case was registered at Latasil police station under Sections 120(B)/121/123/124(A), alleging that the literary critic and poet had during his speech on January 7 reportedly referred to the demand for an “Independent Assam” (Swadhin Axom).
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Gohain however said that he did not know the details or exactly on what basis the FIR was filed against him.
“It is learnt that a case has been registered at Latasil Police station alleging that I had raised the Independent Assam demand. Actually, the topic of Independent Assam was raised in the rally to which I had only reacted by saying that if the democratic measures against the Bill did not work and the demand (to scrap the Bill) not paid heed to, then only the issue of Swadhin Assam demand might come up,” he clarified.
A Sahitya Akademi awardee, Gohain said the agitation against the Bill was based on upholding the values of secularism and Indian Constitution.
Reportedly, sedition charges were also made against FACAAB convenor, Manjit Mahanta and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader, Akhil Gogoi.
The move has evoked sharp criticism among literary circles and a cross-section of society.
Eminent literateur Nagen Saikia said that such an allegation would only sow the seeds for a fresh agitation across Assam. “At a time when the state government should have doused the fire, it was only adding fuel to it,” Saikia said.
Writer Maini Mahanta termed the charge against Gohain as “blatant misinterpration. “I had also taken part in that rally during which a youth had raised the issue. Gohain Sir had replied that now the question of Swadhin Assam did not arise and instead a democratic agitation on the basis of secularism was needed.”
Meanwhile, ULFA (I) commander-in-chief, Paresh Baruah, while condemning the move, warned chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal of the situation worsening in the state if the voice of the people who are within their rights to stage a democratic agitation was not heard.
It may be mentioned that Gohain has played an important role in the mediation between the Centre and militant outfit, ULFA (I).
