Assam government bans protests near Raj Bhavan after Congress worker’s death

Guwahati, Dec 19: The Assam government has imposed a ban on protests near Raj Bhavan following the tragic death of Congress worker Mridul Islam during a “Raj Bhavan Chalo” protest on Wednesday. The demonstration, organized by the Congress, descended into chaos as protesters clashed with police, who responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Mridul Islam, an advocate, reportedly died after being exposed to tear gas during the protest, which aimed to march toward Raj Bhavan. Journalists covering the event also experienced discomfort due to the tear gas.

In response to the incident, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a ban on protests near Raj Bhavan and stated that a designated protest ground would be allocated for such events moving forward. Sarma emphasized the need to keep Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor, free from political unrest.

“The institution of the Governor must remain above partisan politics. On Wednesday, Congress leaders attempted to forcibly enter Raj Bhavan by breaching police barricades, creating chaos in the vicinity. The police will register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation, including reviewing video footage of the incident. No demonstrations will be allowed near Raj Bhavan from now on,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister condemned the Congress leaders for attempting to breach barricades and creating disturbances, adding that the protest lacked official permission. He questioned the purpose of the demonstration, noting that the Governor was not present at Raj Bhavan at the time.

Sarma also suggested that internal competition among Congress leaders contributed to the escalation, implying that the protest was an effort to gain attention from Rahul Gandhi.

Read: Assam – Meghalaya Border Talks: West Jaintia Hills regional committee to submit report within 2 months

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