28 artistes desert anti-CAA fight to join BJP in Assam

Artistes feel that the movement inflicted heavy losses on the state

In what may be called an attempt to insulate the party from the impact of anti-CAA movement in the forthcoming Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday roped in at least 28 noted artistes who were the part of the massive movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam.

This has come when anti-CAA forces including Opposition political parties are trying to revive the anti-CAA movement which was suspended following the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic.

The artistes who joined the BJP in presence of Assam BJP president Ranjit Dass told reporters that the anti-CAA movement inflicted heavy losses on Assam and claimed the lives of five youths. Prominent among the artistes who joined the BJP included flutist Deepak Sarma, singer Simanta Shekhar, actor Pranjit Das, Reba Phukan, Pranjana Dutta, Pankaj Ingti (choreographer), Birina Pathak (singer), Joy Chakraborty (Singer), Dreemly Gogoi (Bihu dancer) and others.

This started with the return of popular Assam actor Jatin Bora who had left the party to join antiCAA movement, back to party fold.

Bora said that he was misguided during that time. He termed his opposition to the CAA as an emotional issue. “I had never seen such a terrible time. The CAA movement inflicted heavy losses on Assam,” said Bora.

“I joined BJP in 2015 with no political intention. I have joined the BJP for the sake of doing something good for the artistes and for the culture of Assam. The goodwill of the government is definitely required for the good work of the artistes. It’s the BJP who can lead and take forward the cultural arena of the state,” said Bora who was the chairman of the state’s film finance development corporation.

Assam actress Asha Bordoloi, who was one of the most prominent faces of the anti-CAA movement has also joined the BJP. Several other artistes also entered the fold of the ruling party at the highprofile induction ceremony in the run up to 2021 Assembly elections. Popular singer Vidyasagar is the other high-profile celebrity who joined the BJP.

It is significant that noted singer Zubeen Garg, who was one of the strongest voices in the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state, had a closed door meeting with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda

Sonowal and thereafter he was declared — brand ambassador of state agriculture department.

Meanwhile, the forces opposed to the new Citizenship Act have started staging protests at various places in a phased manner. Hundreds of protesters hit the roads across Assam on Monday, demanding the repeal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020. Assembled under the aegis of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), the protestors warned of more intense protests in the future.