Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi apologises for making objectionable remarks on Muslim voters supporting BJP
GUWAHATI: Assam MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi apologised to the people of the state for his remarks that Muslims who vote for the BJP are 'kaafirs and will be punished by God.'
'I apologise to the people of Assam for what I said. I shouldn't have said so,' Gogoi said in a video message with folded hands.
He also tendered an unconditional apology to his party colleagues who were offended by his remarks.
'I had deviated from progressive and rational thinking. I made a mistake. I will not make such a comment in the future,' the RTI activist-turned-Sivasagar MLA said.
Citing stress due to hectic panchayat poll campaigning, he said his remarks were sudden and not well thought out. He had made the remarks during campaigning in the Lakhimpur district on Saturday.
For the past few days, Gogoi has been vitriolic in his attack on not only the ruling BJP but also opposition parties. He had called the minority-based party All India United Democratic Front the 'B team' of the BJP, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and Congress leader Debabrata Saikia the 'agents' of the BJP and slammed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged 'divisive' politics.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
17 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
17 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.
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Kishan Reddy demands proper maintenance of streetlights
Union Minister of Coal and Mines and Telangana BJP president G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday accused the State government of neglecting basic civic amenities in the twin cities, citing widespread complaints about non-functional streetlights and irregular drinking water supply. Speaking to the media after meeting with colony welfare associations and slum dwellers in areas such as Jubilee Hills, Vengal Rao Nagar and Srinagar Colony, the Secunderabad MP said residents voiced a range of concerns, including power issues, damaged internal roads and poor sewerage infrastructure. Mr. Kishan Reddy said non-functioning streetlights appear to be a common issue across all areas, with no resolution in sight. He claimed that officials cited a shortage of funds as the reason. Criticising the poor state of civic amenities in the capital region, he said it reflects the inefficiency of the Congress government. He also mocked the idea of a command control room when basic infrastructure, such as CCTV installation in colonies, is pending. He urged the government to take immediate steps to restore street lighting and ensure CCTV connectivity to help prevent crimes such as chain snatching and eve teasing. Engineering seats In a separate press meet, ST Morcha president Kalyan Nayak has urged the state council of higher education to take action against 17 engineering colleges for not following the rule of reservation in Category 'B' (management) and Category 'C' (NRI quota). Instead, the colleges concerned have been charging hefty fees from SC/ST students, he added. The government has failed in allotting proper land for setting up of a sewage treatment plant or dump yard in municipalities, as a result of which it has been unable to take advantage of the Centre's grants, bemoaned MLC Anji Reddy.
