JOIN USAssam polls: Akhil Gogoi files nomination papers from hospital in judicial custody, calls for BJP's ouster
Anti-CAA activist-turned-politician Akhil Gogoi, who is facing a sedition charge for his alleged nexus with the Maoists, filed his nomination papers in judicial custody on Monday while making a call to oust the ruling BJP in the upcoming assembly elections in Assam.
Gogoi, who floated Raijor Dal, a new party, will contest from Sivasagar and Moriani constituency in eastern Assam, which witnessed strong protest against the CAA.
Gogoi has been in judicial custody since his arrest during the violent protest against the CAA in December 2019 and submitted the nomination papers to the superintendent of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Abhijeet Sarma. He was admitted to GMCH following some health issues.
While being taken out of his room by police, Gogoi handed out a letter to reporters in which he made seven appeals to the people in order to defeat the BJP.
In the handwritten letter, Gogoi alleged that the BJP invited 1.90 crore Hindu migrants from Bangladesh (post-1971 migrants) through the CAA. The CAA seeks to offer citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who arrived in India before 2014 end. This created fear among many indigenous people in Assam about losing their identity and culture.
Gogoi also called the BJP a communal and fascist party and alleged that they were handing over the national resources to private companies. He appealed to all Opposition parties to work out a strategy to ensure that BJP candidates did not win this time.