We don't support divisive politics: Lurinjyoti Gogoi

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the president of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), has expressed the hope that Assam would witness a political change as the people have seen enough communal politics of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), corruption of the Congress and fake regionalism of the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad).

Gogoi is contesting the ensuing Assembly elections from Duliajan and Naharkotia in Upper Assam.

Speaking to The Sentinel, Gogoi said that the national-level parties have been doing politics in the State by dividing the people on the lines of Hindus and Muslim as well as Assamese and Bengali.

"Assam is a land of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva; and the divisive politics of national-level political parties has no place here. It is dangerous to do politics in the name of caste, creed, community and religion in the greater Assamese society.

"By keeping intact our self-respect, the AJP is trying very hard to strengthen all regional forces. We are not bothered who is with us or who is not. But, our fight for the State's real issues will continue. We hope to receive tremendous support from the people of Assam." Gogoi joined the AJP after leaving the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) during the Duliajan conference in November 2020.

On the BJP, Gogoi said that the ruling party has brought the Citizenship (Amendment) Act which is a completely communal in nature. It is a tool to further divide the society on the line of religion, Hindu and Muslim.

"For us, whoever entered Assam post-March 25, 1971 is an illegal foreigner and must leave the State as per the historic Assam Accord. Bangladeshis are Bangladeshis. There cannot be any leniency to detect and deport them on the basis of religion," pointed out the AJP president.

Gogoi further said, "Things have come to such a pass that many people prefer to identify themselves as Hindus or Muslims instead of Assamese. It is a dangerous signal for the greater Assamese society."

"When the people raise the issues of unemployment and development, the ruling BJP counters the same by raking up issues of 'Miya Musuem', 'Badruddin Ajmal trying to become Chief Minister of Assam', fight against the 'Mughals' and war between 'two civilizations'. These are all tactics of the BJP to divert the attention of the masses from real and burning issues of Assam," he added.

Lambasting a section of AGP leaders for "destroying the true spirit of regionalism", Gogoi said that the State's first regional party has now become a political party of a handful of leaders whose sole intention is to grab and remain in power. "The aspirations and development of the people is not at all in the priority list of these AGP leaders. They are playing the card of regionalism by toeing the line of the national-level political parties at the same time. But, we will not do such kind of fake regionalism. Now it is up to the people to judge and vote," added Gogoi.

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