Activist Akhil Gogoi, who was elected as an MLA from Sivasagar in Upper Assam while in jail, on Friday accused police personnel and a magistrate of manhandling him while escorting him for the oath-taking ceremony of new legislators in the Assembly.
Akhil, who is president of the regional party Raijor Dal, has been in judicial custody since December 12, 2019, on charges of sedition and inciting violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam.
Akhil, the only MLA from his party, was brought to the Assembly from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, where he has been undergoing treatment, in a city bus escorted by over 20 policemen and a magistrate.
Akhil, known for his fearlessness and blunt talk, raised a hue and cry in front of the reporters covering the Assembly proceedings.
“This is nothing but an insult to the Assamese community. Is this how you treat an elected MLA? If this is the treatment meted out to an MLA, I shudder to think of the plight of the common man,” Akhil thundered at the conduct of the policemen and officials escorting him.
Gogoi said the police personnel “pushed” him around when they should have maintained social distancing to check the spread of coronavirus.
“The government can kill me but can’t silence my voice. I will continue to raise my voice for the people of Assam,” said the peasant leader, who many believe could emerge the face of the Opposition given his knack to flag issues and make headlines.
Senior Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi lent his support to Akhil. “I condemn the manner in which an MLA (Akhil) was treated. He was treated like an accused, not as an elected representative. It is very unfortunate,” Kurmi said.
In fact, Kurmi, a four-time MLA from the tea community, created a bit of flutter of his own by revealing to reporters that he wants to lead the state Congress unit.
“Since the PCC president has resigned, I want the high command to consider my candidature given my seniority and the lone MLA from my community,” he said, refusing the post of secretary, Assam Congress Legislature Party, because this post should go to newcomers.
The tea community has drifted towards the BJP since 2014.
PCC insiders said the party leadership should consider rebuilding the party in the tea belt and Kurmi appears the best bet. “The old guard from the tea community has outlived its utility. The successive defeats since 2014 proves this fact. In fact, Kurmi should be made the CLP leader and Debabrata Saikia the PCC president if the high command really wants to strengthen the party before the next polls,” one of them said.
Saikia was on Thursday evening re-elected the CLP leader. Being the single largest party in the Opposition, he will also be leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
Biswajit Daimary of the United People’s Party Liberal, a BJP ally, was elected as the new Speaker on Friday.
The Assembly session will conclude on May 24.
