Guwahati: Raijor Dal President and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has fired a broadside at the Assam government, accusing it of meticulously crafting a volatile atmosphere for communal strife ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Gogoi minced no words, labelling Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s alleged push for arms licenses to indigenous people in select districts as a “dangerous political strategy.”
Gogoi painted a grim picture of the government’s intentions, describing the arms distribution as a calculated gambit to ignite Hindu-Muslim tensions under the thin veil of protecting local communities. He thundered, “When the government says it cannot protect the indigenous people, it means the Home Department has failed. It is a shame. If the government cannot provide security, then the Chief Minister and Home Minister must resign.”
According to the firebrand MLA, the policy is not about safeguarding citizens but about blatant political opportunism. He alleged that the licenses are being strategically doled out to empower members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), deliberately fanning fear among minorities, particularly Muslims. “This is not a small decision. It is a decision that can divide Assam and destroy peace before the 2026 elections,” Gogoi warned grimly.
Drawing sharp parallels with historical precedents, Gogoi reminded reporters of similar communal strategies supposedly employed during the Congress era, a time when Sarma himself was part of that political outfit. “Now, since Sarma is in BJP and facing declining support, he is repeating the same tactics,” he added, suggesting a pattern of political expediency.
Gogoi also raised serious concerns over the contentious identification of individuals as illegal immigrants, a process that has reportedly included professionals like teachers. He directly accused the administration of leveraging this as a tool to spread fear and target specific communities. “This is a clear attempt to create fear and division among the people,” he asserted.
Furthermore, Gogoi warned of a disturbing unfolding pattern. He claimed that the arms license introduction is merely the first act in a larger drama, with subsequent steps involving identifying individuals as foreigners and then mobilising local organisations to escalate tensions. “We are seeing this pattern. First, arms licenses are given. Then, some people are picked up as illegal immigrants. Now, they are using organisations to spread hate. This is a dangerous strategy,” he elucidated.
Gogoi vehemently rejected the government’s justification that the move is aimed at protecting indigenous groups. Instead, he urged authorities to focus on genuine law enforcement solutions. “If the government really cares about the indigenous people, then it should deploy more CRPF forces, build more police stations, and improve law and order. But giving arms to common people and the RSS is not the solution,” he stated unequivocally.
He placed a firm demand before the Assam Cabinet: revoke the arms license policy and make all related documents public immediately. Gogoi issued a stern warning of widespread protests if the decision is not reversed. “This will only lead to chaos and a communal clash. We condemn this move strongly. If the government does not step back, we will launch strong protests,” he declared.
Calling the prevailing situation a “complete failure” of the current administration, Gogoi concluded with a dire prognosis: “Assam’s society is in danger. Its population is losing peace. This is the result of the wrong policies of the current government.”
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