Offered bail by NIA for joining RSS, BJP, says jailed Assam activist Akhil Gogoi

Jailed Assam leader Akhil Gogoi saidd he was offered ₹20 cr by NIA and asked to join RSS, BJP. alleges

Published on: Mar 24, 2021, 09:34:01 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Jailed activist Akhil Gogoi on Tuesday alleged that he was offered a ₹20-crore bribe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and asked to join the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in exchange for bail, prompting the agency to refute the allegations.

Raijor Dalleader Akhil Gogoi has been in jail since December 2019. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

Gogoi, who is under arrest since December 2019 for his role in the violent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, made the allegations in a letter, which his party released to the media.

In his letter, the president of the newly formed Raijor Dal, Gogoi said that NIA officials gave him political lectures.

“First I was told about Hindutva and then offered inducement. I was told that if I joined RSS, I would get bail immediately. When I refused this embarrassing offer, I was given a chance to join BJP. They said I could contest from a vacant assembly seat and become a minister in the BJP government in Assam,” he said. “Because of my refusals, several cases were heaped on me and I even failed to get bail from the Supreme Court. Now it seems all chances of getting out are lost. My family is almost finished, and I am physically destroyed.”

The BJP labelled the allegations as an election gimmick. “Gogoi has been under arrest in serious charges since December 2019. Why was he silent all these months?...It’s just poll gimmick and voters in Assam, who are very intelligent and aware, won’t be swayed by such tactics,” said BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami.

An NIA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “This is nonsense. Absolute lie.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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