Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi, who made historical past by successful Assembly polls from jail in 2021, on March 12, 2023 mentioned he isn’t happy being a legislator in comparison with his activism days, when the previous peasant chief could raise “people’s issues” more “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” selections of the federal government as different non-ruling events have change into “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,” Mr. Gogoi instructed PTI in an interview.
Raijor Dal, Gogoi’s political get together, has been preventing towards numerous issues such as corporatisation of assets of India, “fascist” ambiance, and “communal and undemocratic spirit” of the federal government.
Asked particularly if there was more scope of preventing for people’s causes whereas being an activist and he was more happy throughout his earlier stint, Mr. Gogoi mentioned: “Yes, definitely. I was more happy in the days of activism. Now, I am a legislator.
“In the Assam Assembly, I’m the one opposition who struggle towards this communal BJP authorities. We have 51 opposition MLAs. But most of the oppositions voted in favour of BJP in Rajya Sabha and President elections.” When pointed out that the allegation was against him also that he had voted for BJP during the President’s election, the Independent MLA denied the charge and claimed that he has been fighting against the “BJP’s communal and casteist politics all alongside”.
Mr. Gogoi had started his social life by starting the peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and raised a series of issues relating to the farmers livelihood and settlement for almost two decades of this century.
He had filed a number of RTI applications and court cases on a range of issues, including land rights, and exposed a number of scams in Assam.
The former KMSS leader and the group had also led several protests and agitations, including against NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri hydro power project, Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and toll gates on National Highways, across the state.
“I fought towards all of the ideas of the Government of India and BJP. I believe all of the MLAs of opposition will not be preventing towards this authorities strongly. I’m alone preventing towards this authorities boldly,” Mr. Gogoi asserted.
Stating that a “very powerful and demanding recreation” is happening in the Assam Assembly, he claimed that he is trying to resist all the “anti-people” legislation brought by the treasury benches in the House.
“In all of the periods, I at all times struggle towards the communal spirit. In Assam, there are some anti-government, anti-Constitutional, anti-democratic works being finished by the Government of Assam just like the pretend encounter and eviction towards minority individuals,” Mr. Gogoi alleged.
When asked if he will contest again in 2026 as he is not happy being an MLA, the Raijor Dal chief said that election is a medium only where he can spread his ideology, thinking and works.
“I do not take into consideration the 2026 elections now, it’s miles away… It’s a query of democracy and I shall undoubtedly struggle the 2026 elections towards this communal BJP authorities,” he added.
Mr. Gogoi expressed reluctance to give a direct reply to a query on his winability in 2026 in absence of the “emotion quotient” as he will be outside jail and campaigning physically.
“See, I’m not an expert politician. I’m simply an activist. I’m a easy man and I at all times struggle towards communal fascism and undemocratic works of governments. We are attempting to revive 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.
Mr. 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 shaped Raijor Dal, contested 2021 Assembly polls as an Independent candidate from Sibsagar seat and received it by defeating BJP’s Surabhi Rajkonwari by a decisive 11,875 votes.
Mr. Gogoi grew to become the primary Assamese to win an election remaining behind the bars with none bodily campaigning. He additionally grew to become the primary in Assam Assembly to take oath as a prisoner MLA, coming from jail on a particular permission by court docket.
Reminiscing his election victory, Mr. Gogoi mentioned: “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 passed off 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, Mr. Gogoi claimed that many leaders of the people’s motion compromised with the federal government and the general public had 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 had been historic elections. Because with out the bodily presence of a candidate, the individuals of Sibsagar voted for me and I received the elections. So, that was a historical past and a historical past of people’s motion,” he added.
