Akhil Gogoi was charged under anti-terror law unlawful activities prevention act during the anti-CAA protests and accused of sedition.
The Assamese leader Akhil Gogoi was jailed over protests against the controversial citizenship law in December 2019, charged under anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act), and also blamed for sedition.
However, this afternoon walked out of the prison free after one and a half years, hours after a special NIA (National Investigation Agency) court cleared him in a pending case.
His three aides were also cleared in the case over their alleged role in anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) violent protests that broke out in Assam after the law was cleared by Parliament in 2019.
Shortly after the court’s decision, Mr Gogoi, who was elected as MLA from Sibasagar constituency in April-May Assam elections, said: “Today is a historic day for an independent judiciary.”
“Everywhere, we are seeing that there is no democratic atmosphere in Indian polity and policy. But this judgment gives us hope. The UAPA is a draconian law… it should be scrapped. Now, I will fight against the anti-terror law.”
He also blamed the BJP government for an undemocratic form saying, “In Assam, political and social atmosphere is no more democratic. There is no democratic spirit in any action of the ruling BJP. If you say anything on social media, or in the public domain, a case is filed against you or you’re arrested. They (BJP) will make Assam another Uttar Pradesh.”
On winning the elections, he said: “The victory in polls was historic. I did not have to spend a single penny from my pocket for the election campaign.” Mr Gogoi had won the election without even campaigning.
The Anti-CAA Movement
This movement arose in a roar all over India by most Indians who felt the law threatened the very fabric of democracy by leaving out the Muslims from being granted citizenship in India while people of different religions who had entered India as refugees were granted the same. Assam for different reasons fought against the law feeling their state sabotaged by the huge influx of refugees with the threat of their “identity and culture” drowning with this new law and also the fear that the new refugees with their Indian citizenship would take away their jobs.
The rest of India rose up and took to the streets in the largest protests for over a year against this law calling it anti-democratic because this was the first time, citizenship in India was based on religion.
The COVID-19 saw the end of the protests, but a large number of activists were arrested under UAPA and are still in jail.
Who is Akhil Gogoi?
Akhil Gogoi is an Indian peasant leader, RTI activist, and an MLA from Sibsagar, Assam. Over the years he has been driving many anti-graft movements in the state. Gogoi came to national attention after he was awarded the Shanmugam Manjunath Integrity Award in 2008 for his constant fight against corruption, In 2010, he was awarded the national Right to Information Award by Public Cause Research Foundation for his role in exposing a Rs. 12.5 million scam in Sampoorna Gram Rozgar Yojna in the Golaghat district of Assam.He is the founder Secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)- a left-wing peasant organization based in Assam.