Akhil Gogoi vows to continue opposing 'CAA' after release
- Jul 02, 2021,
- Updated Jul 02, 2021, 12:21 AM IST
GUWAHATI: After being released by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) after dropping of charges against him, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi proclaimed that he will continue to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act, even if it means losing his status as an MLA.
Gogoi after being released from prison today claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has tried to lure him away from the path of rebellion and even offered him a Ministerial post.
"I did not accept to those terms as being a traitor is not in my nature," Gogoi told media persons.
He said that he will continue to oppose the construction of big dams, and even though he might not be able to overturn the CAA (which has already been passed in both houses of the Parliament), he will try to ensure that foreigners are not able to settle on Assamese land.
In the same breath, the fiery leader accused the BJP of running a 'cattle smuggling racket', adding that all syndicates are being run under the supervision of the BJP party.
Also Read: Akhil Gogoi shares his son’s grief over his jailing, says he was ‘distressed’ & ‘sick’
The outspoken also said that an investigation should be initiated to crackdown on suspect elements in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), before going on to allege corruption in every examination conducted under the BJP-led government.
"If there is corruption in the appointment of 1 lakh jobs, I will not only be there to protest on the streets. This time, I will be in the Assembly and will not allow culprits to rest easy," he added.
The peasant leader also said that he plans to continue his opposition to 'toll gates' and will try to shut them down via legal and democratic means.
Accusing the BJP-led government of "spreading COVID-19 in the villages", he added that the people who had borne the brunt of the economic damage -- such as cabbies and autorickshaw drivers -- must be compensated.
Gogoi walked out of jail on Thursday after a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) acquitted him of all charges in the second of the two cases related to the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act violence in the State in December 2019.