Guwahati: The Namaz of Eid on April 12 in Assam’s Sivasagar Idgah Maidan took a political turn as Congress candidate Gaurab Gogoi, vying for the Jorhat parliamentary constituency, was captured performing Namaz. The son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi displayed a seamless execution of the Eid rituals, sparking criticism within the political landscape of the state.
The viral video of Gaurab Gogoi’s Namaz quickly drew sharp reactions, notably from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who criticised Gogoi’s participation in Eid festivities while questioning his absence during the “Pran Pratistha” of “Ram Lalla” in Ayodhya on January 22. CM Sarma said, “Gaurab Gogoi has done a great sin, on the day of Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla, he was demonstrating on the street of Nagaon with Rahul Gandhi, whose religion is a question mark, to impress him. Where was his spirituality?” CM Sarma’s remarks targeted Gogoi’s perceived lack of involvement in Hindu religious events, juxtaposing it against his active participation in Eid celebrations.
CM Sarma accused Gaurab Gogoi of prioritising political posturing over genuine spirituality, citing instances where Gogoi allegedly neglected Hindu religious occasions and failed to advocate for issues affecting the Hindu community. The CM further questioned, “ The divinity Gaurab Gogoi has shown for Eid, was never shown for Ram Mandir or Maa Kamakhya temple. You have not visited Ram Mandir yet, or have you ever participated in any Hindu religious occasions with so much divinity? Have you ever participated in Guru Sankardev PunyaTithi with that much divinity? It is an insult to the Hindu community of Assam.” CM Sarma highlighted Gogoi’s purported silence when Lord Krishna was compared to Love Jihadis by a state Congress president, emphasising Gogoi’s alleged inconsistency in defending Hindu sentiments. CM Sarma asked, “Where was Gaurab Gogoi then? Assam is a state where Lord Krishna is worshipped in every household. But when Bhagwan Krishna was abused by the Congress president, Gogoi was mum.”
Furthermore, CM Sarma argued that performing Namaz alone does not signify genuine concern for the Muslim community, accusing Gogoi of engaging in opportunistic politics aimed at securing votes rather than addressing substantive issues faced by minority groups, such as child marriage and triple talaq.
CM Sarma further emphasised that the challenges faced by Muslims in Assam cannot be resolved through mere appeasement. He pointed out Gaurab Gogoi’s alleged failure to advocate for measures such as curbing child marriage to protect underprivileged Muslim girls or standing up for victims of triple talaq. According to Sarma, these actions amount to political appeasement aimed solely at securing Muslim votes in the state.
The controversy surrounding Gaurab Gogoi’s participation in Eid Namaz underscores the complex intersection of religion and politics in Assam. People interpret it as a strategic move to court Muslim voters, potentially at the expense of alienating Hindu constituents.
As the political discourse intensifies ahead of the upcoming elections, Gaurab Gogoi’s actions and the ensuing controversy serve as a focal point for debates surrounding identity politics, religious representation, and electoral strategies in Assam.
