Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi apologises for remark about pro-BJP Muslim voters
Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi has issued an unconditional apology on social media hours for saying that Muslims who vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party are kafirs, or infidels, and will be punished by God, The Hindu reported.
He made the statement while campaigning for the panchayat elections in the Naoboicha Assembly constituency in northeastern Assam's Lakhimpur district.
In his apology, the Raijor Dal chief said his party members told him that a 'rational and progressive individual' such as him should not have made such a statement, the Assam Tribune reported.
Nevertheless, the BJP's Assam President Dilip Saikia on Sunday filed a complaint with the state election commissioner against Gogoi, accusing him of violating the model code of conduct, The Times of India reported.
Saikia referred to provisions in the model code that bar political leaders from using religious or caste-based appeals to sway voters.
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission that political parties and governments are mandated to follow while campaigning.
'This poisonous rhetoric by him is nothing but a vile attempt to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of Assam and to sow seeds of division among communities,' the BJP's Assam unit said on Sunday.
Today, in a deeply communal and disgraceful statement, Akhil Gogoi — who represents a historically significant constituency like Sivasagar — shamelessly declared that no Muslim should vote for the BJP. This poisonous rhetoric by him is nothing but a vile attempt to disrupt the… pic.twitter.com/Jnsmyy4U0C
— BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) April 27, 2025
The BJP claimed that Gogoi's remarks reflected the ideology of the entire Opposition bloc.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
26 minutes ago
- The Print
Delhi CM Gupta warns of police action against ‘demolition' rumourmongers
She also stated that no street vendors with the PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme documents will be displaced from their locations, according to a statement. Gupta, who held a meeting on illegal demolitions, also asserted that no slums would be demolished without providing permanent houses to their inhabitants. New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said that those spreading 'rumour' of slum demolitions in the city will face police action. The ruling BJP is facing a lot of criticism from opposition parties over the demolition of the Madrasi camp slum in south Delhi. 'The chief minister stated that some individuals are spreading misinformation about slum demolitions, whereas the government has assured that no slum will be demolished without providing permanent housing to the residents,' the statement said. Strict action will be taken against those spreading such rumours, it said. During the meeting, Gupta directed officials to maintain sewage, drainage, drinking water, roads, street lighting, community toilets, and waste management in slum clusters. 'It is our responsibility to ensure they receive the same facilities as other city residents. Our goal is not just redevelopment but also improving their quality of life,' she said. The redevelopment of all slum clusters in Delhi will be carried out in a phased manner, said. PTI VIT VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
26 minutes ago
- The Print
Adityanath urges BJP leaders to amplify Modi govt's 11-year achievements
Themed '11 Years of Service, Good Governance and Poor Welfare ('seva, sushashan aur gareeb kalyan ke 11 varsh)', the event began with floral tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the UP government said in a statement. Addressing a state-level workshop organised in Lucknow on the completion of 11 years of the Modi government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that it is the good fortune of the nation to have the impactful leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Amrit Kaal of independence. Lucknow, Jun 3 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday urged BJP workers to take the achievements of the central government to every citizen. Urging party workers to focus on grassroots engagement, the chief minister said it is everyone's responsibility to communicate the government's 11 years of achievements at the booth level. He called for connecting all sections and organisations with the campaign and highlighting success stories of beneficiaries. Adityanath said that the 11 years of Modi government's performance form the foundation for realizing the vision of a developed India. 'Workers must play an active role in disseminating these achievements at the state, district, mandal, and Shakti Kendra levels,' he said. He encouraged workers not to limit the campaign to the party cadre, but to engage with the general public, professional groups, and direct beneficiaries. Citing recent by-elections, he said that coordinated meetings of party departments and cells had proved effective. BJP's six morchas and 22-23 cells represent every segment of society, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, students, and beneficiaries. Organising meetings with these groups and selecting speakers from among them would ensure effective outreach, he said. Highlighting the success of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Adityanath said that where once illness became a crisis for families, today over 50 crore people in India, including 10 crore in Uttar Pradesh, are covered under the scheme. Through the Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Yojana, senior citizens above the age of 70 receive free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, without any discrimination. Speaking on progress in healthcare, he said that prior to 2014, India had only one AIIMS. While Atal Bihari Vajpayee established six AIIMS, the Modi government has added 22 more, including two in Uttar Pradesh. The 'One District, One Medical College' vision has made institutions a reality in remote districts such as Maharajganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Mirzapur, providing both healthcare access and employment. He urged workers to proudly promote these achievements and counter misinformation from the opposition. He said that PM Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to restore Ayodhya's glory. He urged workers to actively participate in programmes like the Tiranga Yatra, Ahilyabai Holkar anniversary, and International Yoga Day. He also called on BJP workers to participate in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign and River Rejuvenation Programme on World Environment Day (June 5). Adityanath concluded by stating that Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of the double-engine government, is reaching new heights of development. PTI NAV HIG HIG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
CM unveils 25-point blueprint to fight Delhi's bane — pollution
A massive expansion of electric buses, crackdown on polluting vehicles, stricter enforcement at construction sites, cloud seeding pilots, deployment of over 1,000 water sprinklers and 140 anti-smog guns, and six new air monitoring stations — these are among the key steps outlined in Delhi's new air pollution action plan unveiled by chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday. Billed as the 'most scientific and actionable' road map yet for the Capital's battle against bad air, the 25-point Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025 targets seven key sources: dust, vehicle emissions, construction and demolition waste, solid waste, industrial pollution, greening, and real-time monitoring. 'Providing clean air to Delhi's citizens is not optional — it is our duty,' Gupta said, releasing the plan at the Delhi Secretariat flanked by cabinet ministers Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Kapil Mishra. 'This plan balances enforcement, innovation, and public engagement. This plan is not just a document, but a robust road map to protect the health of our citizens in the coming years. It lays the foundation for a clean, green, and healthy Delhi.' The Bharatiya Janata Party had promised halving Delhi's pollution by 2030 in its election manifesto ahead of the 2025 Delhi assembly polls. Key measures include deploying more than 5,000 new electric buses and 2,299 e-autos by year-end, installing ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras to keep end-of-life vehicles out of the city, mandatory anti-smog guns at all large commercial buildings, and launching a tree plantation drive that will see seven million saplings planted under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (A tree for your mother)' campaign. The government will also audit PUC centres every six months, scale up C&D waste processing by 1,000 tonnes per day, and make 100% recycled construction material mandatory for government projects. In a first, the plan integrates advanced tools such as AI, GPS tracking, cloud computing, and automated alerts into Delhi's air quality governance systems. 'We're also launching a 'Startup Innovation Challenge' to bring in low-cost, high-impact ideas for pollution control,' Gupta said. One of the more ambitious pilot efforts will involve cloud seeding to test the feasibility of artificial rain to control airborne dust. This will be done in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, which will also partner with the government on other scientific interventions. To tackle dust pollution — among the most visible sources of smog in Delhi — the city will see over 1,000 water sprinklers and 140 anti-smog guns in year-round operation, with real-time GPS and CCTV tracking. The government also plans to expand night-time cleaning with 200 mechanical road sweepers, 70 electric litter pickers, and 38 tankers. For the construction sector, Gupta announced that all projects spread over 500 square metres must register with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and follow a 14-point dust control checklist embedded into the building approval process. On vehicular emissions, the plan reiterates the strict enforcement of a Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directive that bans all but BS-VI, CNG, and electric commercial goods vehicles from entering the Capital. Digital alerts will be sent to non-compliant vehicle owners in neighbouring states. The electric mobility push includes charging stations across commercial areas, malls, airports, railway stations, and municipal parking lots — a step officials say is crucial to shifting public transport and last-mile connectivity to cleaner modes. A total of 2,299 electric autos will be stationed at metro hubs, while over 5,000 new electric buses are on the cards, with 2,080 expected to hit the roads by year-end. Landfills, another long-standing air pollutant, are also under the spotlight. Timelines have been issued for remediating legacy waste at Okhla by March 2027, Bhalswa by December 2027, and Ghazipur by September 2028. Residents' associations have been asked to enforce household-level segregation and replace winter biomass burning with electric heating options for support staff. Delhi will also see six new ambient air quality monitoring stations and a real-time source apportionment study. Emphasising public participation, Gupta urged residents to enlist as 'Environment Doots' — the city's first line of vigilance and action. Experts have broadly welcomed the plan but flagged the absence of stronger targets. 'Electric mobility needs a clear commitment to zero-emission vehicles, not vague references to clean vehicles,' said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). 'The focus on bus transport is welcome, but it requires setting ridership goals. And solid waste management needs a 100% diversion target for wet waste.' Roychowdhury also welcomed the plan's emphasis on enforcing approved fuels and tackling fugitive emissions in industrial zones. 'However, household fuels remain an overlooked source. We hope to see stronger systemic and infrastructure-level interventions to drive long-term improvements,' she added.
