Akhil Gogoi after being released from jail

Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, who was released from jail on July 1, said that his mission to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Assam has just begun.

On July 1, Gogoi was discharged of all the charges under UAPA for his alleged role in the violent anti-CAA stir in the state in December 2019 by a special NIA court. He was in prison for more than one and half years.

“The BJP government put me behind the bars so that they can return to power,” Akhil Gogoi told reporters as he started his journey to his constituency for the first time after winning the election.

“But not anymore. The mission to remove BJP in Assam has just begun. I promise you all from today onwards I will work for that,” he said.

Akhil Gogoi termed his release a ‘miracle’ and thanked everyone who fought and supported this journey.

“This is a miracle — that’s what I told my advocate. I had never thought a strong, brave and historic verdict like this could come from the Indian judiciary — especially during the rule of the BJP, where its (judiciary’s) role has been perceived as so weak in recent years,” Gogoi was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“But this judgment proves otherwise — it will set a precedent for the entire country. Everyone in Assam knew all the allegations against me were false. All of Assam protested the CAA — not just me. Yet, I was singled out. They said that the CAA movement was secretly led by Maoists. So, by that logic were they saying every Assamese was a Maoist? The truth is that genuine people had participated in the movement, and to dilute it, the government drew these false links with Maoists, and got us arrested,” he said.

Akhil Gogoi visits anti-CAA martys’s residence

Akhil Gogoi on July 1 visited the residence of Sam Stafford, one of the martyrs of anti-CAA movement, in Guwahati and interacted with his family members. He said that he will provide all the legal assistance to the family.

Speaking about the people of his constituency who voted him to power when he was in jail, Akhil Gogoi said that he has no words to thank them.

“I’m overwhelmed by the love of the people. I’m so excited to meet the people of my constituency. I don’t know how to thank them. It has never happened in history. They voted me to victory when I was in jail. I couldn’t meet them. They are so special to me. After reaching my constituency I will take a bow in front of the people,” Gogoi added.

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