Assam: Arrest of four students' & Raijor Dal leaders draws flak

GUWAHATI: 

The recent arrest of four students' and Raijor Dal leaders has drawn flak from several quarters even as many termed the action of the Assam government and the police as "uncalled" for. 

Police had picked up Raijor Dal secretary Padma Kanta Das, Chatra Mukti Sangram Samity leader Manas Konwar, Chitu Barua of Bir Lachit Sena and Jintu Mech of Asom Chattra Yuba Sammelan on Monday. They were later released on Tuesday. 

Raijor Dal is headed by Sibsagar MLA and jailed activist Akhil Gogoi.

Raijor Dal alleged that the four were dragged away by the police like hardened criminals. The government’s action exposed its and the chief minister’s fascist character and warned against any repeat, it added. 

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity said the chief minister had no moral courage to face Gogoi and had, therefore, resorted to committing atrocities on people belonging to its sister organisations and its well-wishers. It warned the chief minister to desist from such actions.

Sources informed that the four were picked up without any reason and suspected that the government was apparently fearing protests after chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a comment on Akhil's mental health condition. 

On Monday, the CM told the state Assembly that Akhil was “mentally unstable”. 

Gogoi has been under treatment at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital since March for what was reported then as various “complications.”

Sarma’s comments drew sharp reactions with questions being raised on whether it was “ethical” of him to disclose Gogoi’s health condition or for the doctors to reveal it to him in apparent violation of medical ethics.

Sarma on Tuesday said whatever a chief minister says in the Assembly is the truth based on facts. He also said that every action would have a reaction and the government was not afraid of any reaction. Besides, he also said the police should stay away from democratic protests. “Sometimes they will burn our effigies and sometimes our party workers may burn their effigies, but the police should maintain distance,” he said.

Reacting to the chief minister’s comments on Gogoi, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee described it as “unfortunate.”

“Assam Pradesh Congress Committee considers the statement of chief minister of Assam Sri Himanta Biswa Sarma on KMSS leader and MLA Sri Akhil Gogoi in the Assam Assembly whom he termed as a patient of mental illness describing in detail his behavioural pattern as extremely unfortunate. Such a statement on the mental health condition of an opposition leader who is not even present in the august house is highly insensitive, undignified and unbecoming of a person who is occupying the highest position in the state,” a statement issued by the party said.

The APCC president, Ripun Bora, termed the statement extremely unparliamentary and inappropriate.

With inputs from PTI

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

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