Congress team at Hiren Gohain’s residence

GUWAHATI: A day after noted intellectual and academician Hiren Gohain, along with peasant leader Akhil Gogoi and journalist Manjit Mahanta were charged with sedition for allegedly backing the concept of a ‘sovereign Assam’ in a meeting held in Guwahati this week, Congress came out in support of the renowned scholar and the two other activists.

An Assam Pradesh Congress Committee delegation, led by its president Ripun Bora, reached Gohain’s Nizarapar residence here on Friday morning to express solidarity. “Today, we stand in solidarity with Hiren Gohain. Congress condemns the Sonowal government’s act of registering a sedition case against him and two other social activists. It’s shameful for Assam and the whole country that for voicing concerns over the BJP-led government’s attack on the secular ethos and sanctity of the Indian constitution, they have been tagged as anti-national by the police. But, the actual anti-nationals are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP president Amit Shah. These BJP leaders have been backing the citizenship bill, crushing the secular character of the Constitution and dividing the country on religious lines by bringing the controversial legislation,” alleged Assam PCC president, Ripun Bora.

Tarun Gogoi and an AGP delegation also went to Gohain’s house.