Latest news with #AkhilGogoi
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former student leader, AAP councillor join BJP
Guwahati: Amid war of words among the political parties parallel to the ongoing Panchayat elections, former general secretary of Cotton University Students' Union, known for his prominent role in the anti-CAA protest in 2018-19 and close association with MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi, and a former AAP leader joined BJP on joined the saffron party in the presence of BJP state president Dilip Saikia and cabinet minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, a day ahead of the final phase of the panchayat former general secretary of the Cotton University Students Union, Pranjal Kalita , was the general secretary of the Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti, which is the brother organisation of Akhil Gogoi's Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti. Besides him, the former general secretary of the AAP's state wing and Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) councillor Masuma Begum joined the Saikia said the slew of steps taken by the BJP-led alliance govt under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to make Assam a leading state through development started to draw interest from leaders and workers of Opposition political parties. "Although some continue to criticise the CM for political reasons, those genuinely concerned about the state's welfare are now coming forward to join the BJP, which is a promising sign for Assam," he that every dedicated worker has worth its value in the BJP, he emphasised that all the workers will get an opportunity to work, and there is a system in place to monitor everyone's performance. Saikia, who is also an MP from Darrang-Udalguri, said that it is due to the sacrifices of party workers and the love of the common people that the BJP became the largest political party in the minister Baruah reiterated the BJP's core principle of "Nation First, Party Second, and Self-last" while urging the new joinees to work adhering to the ideology of the party. Referring to the AAP Councillor's entry into the BJP, the minister stated that the GMC has now become opposition-free.
Scroll.in
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
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… — BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) April 27, 2025 The BJP claimed that Gogoi's remarks reflected the ideology of the entire Opposition bloc.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP files complaint against Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi
Guwahati: BJP on Sunday lodged a complaint with the state election commissioner against Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi for violating the model code of conduct by allegedly making communal and divisive remarks. Gogoi has apologised for his remarks. Notably, intense campaigning is on in Assam for the two-phase panchayat election slated for May 2 and 7. In the complaint, state vice-president of the party, Ashok Kumar Bhattarai, claimed that Gogoi, who represents the Sivasagar constituency, allegedly said if Muslims vote for BJP, they would be considered "kafirs" and would face punishment from Allah. "Such comments not only hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community deeply but also attempt to create conflict between the Muslim community and a particular political party. Further, the statements amount to a direct attempt to interfere with the free and fair exercise of the democratic right to vote, which is guaranteed to every citizen under the Constitution," Bhattarai said in the complaint. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The BJP leader further said Gogoi's remarks were a blatant violation of the model code, which strictly prohibits the use of religion, caste or community sentiments to influence voters and mandates maintaining communal harmony during the panchayat election process. "Therefore, the party has demanded strict and appropriate legal and electoral action against Gogoi for his gross violation of the model code to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process," he said. Meanwhile, Gogoi, in a video message on social media on Saturday night, apologised for his remarks and said he made a mistake and should not have spoken in such a manner.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
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.
