Not joyful as MLA, may increase folks’s points extra earlier, says activist-turned politician Akhil Gogoi

By PTI

GUWAHATI: Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi, who made historical past by successful Assembly polls from jail in 2021, on Sunday stated he’s not joyful being a legislator in comparison with his activism days, when the previous peasant chief may increase “people’s issues” extra “directly and strongly”.

The first-time MLA from Sibsagar constituency additionally claimed that he’s alone taking part in the position of opposition by criticising and protesting all of the “anti-people” choices of the federal government as different non-ruling events have grow to be “silent”.

“I am not happy with this post of MLA. I am an activist. I fight against all anti-people activities of the Government of India as well as the state government,” Gogoi informed PTI in an interview.

Raijor Dal, Gogoi’s political occasion, has been combating in opposition to numerous points corresponding to corporatisation of assets of India, “fascist” ambiance, and “communal and undemocratic spirit” of the federal government.

Asked particularly if there was extra scope of combating for folks’s causes whereas being an activist and he was extra joyful throughout his earlier stint, Gogoi stated: “Yes, definitely. I was more happy in the days of activism. Now, I am a legislator. In the Assam Assembly, I am the only opposition who fight against this communal BJP government. We have 51 opposition MLAs. But many of the oppositions voted in favour of BJP in Rajya Sabha and President elections.”

WEB SCRAWL | Northeast outcomes: Himanta Biswa Sarma, not Shah or Modi, made the distinction for BJP 

When identified that the allegation was in opposition to him additionally that he had voted for BJP throughout the President’s election, the Independent MLA denied the cost and claimed that he has been combating in opposition to the “BJP’s communal and casteist politics all along”.

Gogoi had began his social life by beginning the peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and raised a collection of points regarding the farmers livelihood and settlement for nearly twenty years of this century.

He had filed a variety of RTI purposes and courtroom circumstances on a variety of points, together with land rights, and uncovered a variety of scams in Assam.

The former KMSS chief and the group had additionally led a number of protests and agitations, together with in opposition to NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri hydro energy undertaking, Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and toll gates on National Highways, throughout the state. “I fought against all the concepts of the Government of India and BJP. I think all the MLAs of opposition are not fighting against this government strongly. I am alone fighting against this government boldly,” Gogoi asserted.

Stating {that a} “very tough and critical game” is going on within the Assam Assembly, he claimed that he’s attempting to withstand all of the “anti-people” laws introduced by the treasury benches within the House. “In all the sessions, I always fight against the communal spirit. In Assam, there are some anti-government, anti-Constitutional, anti-democratic works being done by the Government of Assam like the fake encounter and eviction against minority people,” Gogoi alleged.

When requested if he’ll contest once more in 2026 as he’s not joyful being an MLA, the Raijor Dal chief stated that election is a medium solely the place he can unfold his ideology, pondering and works. “I don’t think about the 2026 elections now, it’s far away. It’s a question of democracy and I shall definitely fight the 2026 elections against this communal BJP government,” he added.

Gogoi expressed reluctance to offer a direct reply to a question on his winability in 2026 in absence of the “emotion quotient” as he shall be exterior jail and campaigning bodily.

“See, I am not a professional politician. I am just an activist. I am a simple man and I always fight against communal fascism and undemocratic works of governments. We are trying to restore the values of the Indian Constitution and Indian democracy. So, this question of winning or not winning is not a question for me. This is a question for the democracy of Assam,” he added.

Gogoi was arrested by the NIA in December 2019 for his alleged position in violent anti-CAA protests throughout the state.

The NIA was investigating two circumstances of Gogoi and three of his associates associated to anti-CAA violence.

While being within the jail, he fashioned Raijor Dal, contested 2021 Assembly polls as an Independent candidate from Sibsagar seat and gained it by defeating BJP’s Surabhi Rajkonwari by a decisive 11,875 votes.

Gogoi turned the primary Assamese to win an election remaining behind the bars with none bodily campaigning.

He additionally turned the primary in Assam Assembly to take oath as a prisoner MLA, coming from jail on a particular permission by courtroom.

Reminiscing his election victory, Gogoi stated: “Actually, the history was made by the people only. The people of Assam, basically people from the Sibsagar constituency, made history. The educated people, politically conscious people came out to the street, went door-to-door and requested all the voters to vote for me.”

He opined that the Assembly polls in Assam came about at a time when the state authorities had tried to “demolish all the democratic situation and brutally attacked the people’s movements”.

Referring to the widespread anti-CAA protests, Gogoi claimed that many leaders of the folks’s motion compromised with the federal government and the general public have been in “despair” at the moment.

“So at that time, the conscious people, conscious Assamese intellectuals, intelligentia and some activists from all India like Medha Patkar, Dr Sunilam and others came to Assam and appealed to the people of Sibsagar to vote for me. So, the 2021 Assam Assembly polls were historical elections. Because without the physical presence of a candidate, the people of Sibsagar voted for me and I won the elections. So, that was a history and a history of people’s movement,” he added.

GUWAHATI: Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi, who made historical past by successful Assembly polls from jail in 2021, on Sunday stated he’s not joyful being a legislator in comparison with his activism days, when the previous peasant chief may increase “people’s issues” extra “directly and strongly”.

The first-time MLA from Sibsagar constituency additionally claimed that he’s alone taking part in the position of opposition by criticising and protesting all of the “anti-people” choices of the federal government as different non-ruling events have grow to be “silent”.

“I am not happy with this post of MLA. I am an activist. I fight against all anti-people activities of the Government of India as well as the state government,” Gogoi informed PTI in an interview.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

Raijor Dal, Gogoi’s political occasion, has been combating in opposition to numerous points corresponding to corporatisation of assets of India, “fascist” ambiance, and “communal and undemocratic spirit” of the federal government.

Asked particularly if there was extra scope of combating for folks’s causes whereas being an activist and he was extra joyful throughout his earlier stint, Gogoi stated: “Yes, definitely. I was more happy in the days of activism. Now, I am a legislator. In the Assam Assembly, I am the only opposition who fight against this communal BJP government. We have 51 opposition MLAs. But many of the oppositions voted in favour of BJP in Rajya Sabha and President elections.”

WEB SCRAWL | Northeast outcomes: Himanta Biswa Sarma, not Shah or Modi, made the distinction for BJP 

When identified that the allegation was in opposition to him additionally that he had voted for BJP throughout the President’s election, the Independent MLA denied the cost and claimed that he has been combating in opposition to the “BJP’s communal and casteist politics all along”.

Gogoi had began his social life by beginning the peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and raised a collection of points regarding the farmers livelihood and settlement for nearly twenty years of this century.

He had filed a variety of RTI purposes and courtroom circumstances on a variety of points, together with land rights, and uncovered a variety of scams in Assam.

The former KMSS chief and the group had additionally led a number of protests and agitations, together with in opposition to NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri hydro energy undertaking, Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and toll gates on National Highways, throughout the state. “I fought against all the concepts of the Government of India and BJP. I think all the MLAs of opposition are not fighting against this government strongly. I am alone fighting against this government boldly,” Gogoi asserted.

Stating {that a} “very tough and critical game” is going on within the Assam Assembly, he claimed that he’s attempting to withstand all of the “anti-people” laws introduced by the treasury benches within the House. “In all the sessions, I always fight against the communal spirit. In Assam, there are some anti-government, anti-Constitutional, anti-democratic works being done by the Government of Assam like the fake encounter and eviction against minority people,” Gogoi alleged.

When requested if he’ll contest once more in 2026 as he’s not joyful being an MLA, the Raijor Dal chief stated that election is a medium solely the place he can unfold his ideology, pondering and works. “I don’t think about the 2026 elections now, it’s far away. It’s a question of democracy and I shall definitely fight the 2026 elections against this communal BJP government,” he added.

Gogoi expressed reluctance to offer a direct reply to a question on his winability in 2026 in absence of the “emotion quotient” as he shall be exterior jail and campaigning bodily.

“See, I am not a professional politician. I am just an activist. I am a simple man and I always fight against communal fascism and undemocratic works of governments. We are trying to restore the values of the Indian Constitution and Indian democracy. So, this question of winning or not winning is not a question for me. This is a question for the democracy of Assam,” he added.

Gogoi was arrested by the NIA in December 2019 for his alleged position in violent anti-CAA protests throughout the state.

The NIA was investigating two circumstances of Gogoi and three of his associates associated to anti-CAA violence.

While being within the jail, he fashioned Raijor Dal, contested 2021 Assembly polls as an Independent candidate from Sibsagar seat and gained it by defeating BJP’s Surabhi Rajkonwari by a decisive 11,875 votes.

Gogoi turned the primary Assamese to win an election remaining behind the bars with none bodily campaigning.

He additionally turned the primary in Assam Assembly to take oath as a prisoner MLA, coming from jail on a particular permission by courtroom.

Reminiscing his election victory, Gogoi stated: “Actually, the history was made by the people only. The people of Assam, basically people from the Sibsagar constituency, made history. The educated people, politically conscious people came out to the street, went door-to-door and requested all the voters to vote for me.”

He opined that the Assembly polls in Assam came about at a time when the state authorities had tried to “demolish all the democratic situation and brutally attacked the people’s movements”.

Referring to the widespread anti-CAA protests, Gogoi claimed that many leaders of the folks’s motion compromised with the federal government and the general public have been in “despair” at the moment.

“So at that time, the conscious people, conscious Assamese intellectuals, intelligentia and some activists from all India like Medha Patkar, Dr Sunilam and others came to Assam and appealed to the people of Sibsagar to vote for me. So, the 2021 Assam Assembly polls were historical elections. Because without the physical presence of a candidate, the people of Sibsagar voted for me and I won the elections. So, that was a history and a history of people’s movement,” he added.