'How Can a Sick Person Attend Assembly': Assam CM's Dig at Akhil Gogoi's Mental Health Draws Flak

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has come in the face of criticism after asking in the assembly as to how a "sick person" undergoing treatment for "psychological issues" could attend sessions while responding to opposition parties' demand that incarcerated MLA Akhil Gogoi be allowed to attend.

Using words that have been panned by mental health experts, Sarma on May 24, further said that Gogoi was not in a "sound mental state" as he is receiving treatment for "psychological issues". Gogoi has been receiving treatment for several ailments at a Guwahati hospital.

Sarma's words met with widespread outrage.

Late on Monday evening, four members of Gogoi’s peasant rights’ group Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and its affiliated organisations were picked up by Assam Police at Sivasagar district in Upper Assam and detained for the night.

KMSS and other affiliated bodies said the BJP government had acted fearing repercussions over Sarma's statement on Gogoi's mental health.

Manas Konwar, Citu Baruah, Padmakanta Das and Jintu Mech were all let off on Tuesday morning. They are members of KMSS's student’s wing Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), Raijor Dal (the political front of KMSS); Bir Lachit Sena, an Assamese ethno-nationalist organisation and Asom Yuva Satra Sanmillan.

Konwar, who heads SMSS, had spent seven months in jail last year after being held over his alleged role in anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

He was eventually charged with sedition under the UAPA by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and granted bail by an NIA court in July 2020.

Also read: Still Incarcerated, Peasant Leader Akhil Gogoi Is Sworn in as Assam MLA

According to KMSS members, the four’s family members were also questioned by the police at their respective residences. They were not shown any papers or warrants by the police, their organisations claim.

The Wire spoke to Manas Konwar of SMSS and Shrinkhal Chaliha of Bir Lachit Sena.

Konwar said, “It was around midnight when the police came to my house and questioned my family. They showed up without any proper warrant or papers. When we asked them on what grounds they have shown up at our homes, the police were not able to give any reasons. The four of us were picked up and taken to Simaluguri police station. We were detained for the entire night. We kept asking the police why they did this. Instead, they said we cannot do any agitation. We said that agitation is our democratic right and they cannot stop us. It is clear that Himanta and the BJP are so scared that they have to resort to this. They were afraid that we may protest against what Sarma said on Akhil.”

He further added, “The police went to every house of those who are workers and members of KMSS, SMSS and other organisations. Today the entire Sivasagar town has been cordoned off. Police and security personnel are at every nook and corner of  Sivasagar town.”

Chaliha was arrested and jailed last year and his house was raided by the CID for his alleged role in the anti-CAA protests. He said, “The police had also come to my house, but I was not there. In fact, the police arrived at my place first. Then they went to others’ houses. This a textbook fascist ploy to curb democratic angst. The police also arrived at KMSS state joint secretary Dharjya Konwar’s house, but he was not there.”

Sarma's comments

The episode and particularly Sarma's comments were criticised by academics, mental health experts, civil society and social media users.

Sarma said, “Regarding a person whom doctors have been treating at GMCH [Gauhati Medical College and Hospital] for four months, I am told that he is not in a sound state of mind. He is getting treatment due to psychological issues because of his emotional imbalance. The question is how can a sick person be seated inside the assembly? If he is okay, then according to law, he should be in jail and if he is sick then he should be in a paid hospital cabin. Who will take this decision? Gogoi said the speaker should write. I say why should the speaker write to a sick person? The speaker has sought our comment and we have said a sick person cannot be exposed. He is no doubt sick and that is why he is at GMCH.”

The above is The Wire's translation from the Assamese original. However, Sarma said the phrases "psychological issues" and "emotional imbalance" in English. A video of his speech is below: