Akhil Gogoi is under treatment at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) for various ailments and he was allowed to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of new MLAs held on Friday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court hearing his case.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday told the state assembly that the president of Raijor Dal and newly-elected MLA from Sibsagar, Akhil Gogoi, was undergoing treatment for mental health-related issues and was currently unfit to attend the assembly session. Gogoi’s party said Sarma’s remarks were insulting and a breach of the MLA’s privilege.
Gogoi has been under arrest since December 2019 for his role in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. The 45-year-old, who is under treatment at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) for various ailments, was allowed to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of new MLAs held on Friday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court hearing his case.
After taking the oath, Gogoi requested the assembly speaker to let him take part in the entire session. Earlier, Gogoi had alleged manhandling by police and administrative officials while being brought to the assembly from GMCH.
“How can a sick person be allowed to take part in the assembly session? Gogoi has been under treatment at GMCH for the past four months. He is getting treatment for psychological issues, emotional imbalance, and mental problems,” Sarma said on the last day of the first session of the new assembly.
“He forgot Covid protocol when he came to the assembly on the first day to take an oath and went from one desk to another meeting everyone inside the house. If he says he is not sick, [then] he should be in jail. And if he is sick, he should not attend the assembly,” he added.
Sarma’s response came after the speaker sought the government’s view on Gogoi’s request. The CM argued that since Gogoi was ill, he shouldn’t be exposed to others and allowed to take part in assembly proceedings.
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