File Photo: Akhil Gogoi being taken to a court

Jailed activist Akhil Gogoi on March 23 alleged that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) offered him “instant bail” if he agrees to join the BJP or the RSS ahead of the assembly elections in Assam.

In a letter released by Akhil Gogoi’s newly-floated political party Raijor Dal, the jailed leader said that he was mentally and physically tortured in the prison cell by NIA.

“I was taken to Delhi on December 18, 2019 without the court’s permission. At the NIA headquarter, I was lodged in lockup no. 1 and was given only one dirty blanket. I slept on the floor in 3–4 degree Celsius temperature,” he the letter said.

Later, the letter reportedly written by Akhil Gogoi said that during interrogation, the NIA officials offered him instant bail if he joined the RSS. “When I was arguing against the insulting offer, they came out with another proposal of joining the BJP. They said I could contest the assembly against a vacant seat and become a minister,” Gogoi claimed.

The RTI activist also alleged that he was offered Rs 20 crore to start an NGO by leaving the peasant body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and work against conversion of Assamese people into Christianity.

“When I did not accept any of their proposals, they offered me a meeting with the chief minister and an influential minister of Assam. I turned down that too,” Gogoi said.

He alleged that when he accepted none of the NIA offers, he was called a “disobedient citizen” and charged in extreme cases.

Akhil Gogoi was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treating COVID-19 last year and remains there for other ailments.

The NIA had arrested him in December 2019 for his alleged role in anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

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