Assam arms licence policy recipe for communal violence: Akhil Gogoi
GUWAHATI
Assam activist-turned-MLA Akhil Gogoi said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's arms licence policy was a recipe for communal violence ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The MLA, who represents the Sivasagar Assembly constituency and is the president of Raijor Dal, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was pushing a 'dangerous political strategy' by paving the way for indigenous communities to acquire guns legally.
He said the policy was a calculated attempt to stoke Hindu-Muslim tensions in the name of protecting those deemed to be original inhabitants of Assam.
'In a way, it is an admission that the government cannot protect the indigenous community. If this is the case, the Chief Minister should resign,' Mr Gogoi told journalists on Thursday (May 29, 2025) evening.
He claimed that the licences would be issued to empower members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and drive fear among the minorities, particularly the Muslims. 'This decision can divide Assam and destroy peace before the 2026 elections, he said.
He also expressed concern over marking people, including teachers, as illegal immigrants and trying to deport them without any extradition agreement with neighbouring countries. 'The administration is being used to target certain communities and keep them under pressure,' he said.
Mr. Gogoi sniffed a pattern in the 'sinister' steps being taken by the Assam government, demanding the revocation of the arms licence policy. 'If the government really cares for the indigenous communities, it should deploy more security forces and improve the law and order.
'Giving arms to the common people and RSS members is not the solution,' he said.
Former Assam Congress president, Bhupen Kumar Borah, also slammed the State Cabinet's nod for the arms license policy in some districts where Muslims are in the majority.
'The Chief Minister is trying to incorporate a gun culture similar to that of America, where even students carry firearms,' he said.
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