“Even Mild Criticism Now Invites Backlash”: Dr. Hiren Gohain Slams Govt

Renowned intellectual and scholar Dr. Hiren Gohain on Sunday issued a stirring call for mass resistance against what he described as the growing authoritarian tendencies in the country. Addressing a public gathering in Guwahati, Dr. Gohain warned that the country faces grave danger unless citizens rise in protest.

“In these turbulent times, if the people do not resist, the country will be soaked in blood through violence,” said the veteran thinker, using a metaphor widely interpreted as a reference to the rising dominance of majoritarian and autocratic politics.

Calling the public mobilisation in Assam a “hopeful sign,” Dr. Gohain praised the people of the state for stepping out to defend democratic values. He said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had never truly accepted the spirit of the Indian Constitution.

“When the Constitution was framed, the RSS was not satisfied. They had envisioned a nation that preserves caste-based inequality,” he said.

Dr. Gohain also took aim at the central government, accusing it of stifling dissent and favouring the wealthy elite. “We have now reached a stage where even the mildest criticism of those in power is met with hostility,” he said. “In the name of welfare, poverty is being manufactured. The country’s wealth is being handed over to a handful of corporates.”

Stressing the need to preserve the Constitution’s core values, he said, “To keep the soul and spirit of the Constitution alive, we all must struggle together.”

Joining the call for democratic unity, Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the people of Assam are ready to take on the ruling BJP through united opposition.

“Whether political parties want unity or not, the people of Assam are ready to fight together,” Bhuyan said. “Since January, members of civil society have been meeting with opposition leaders, appealing to them for unity. Today, I make this public.”

Bhuyan emphasised the urgency of the moment, declaring, “We are ready to fight the enemy. We will fight—and we will win.”

The remarks come amid growing concerns over democratic backsliding, concentration of economic power, and the weakening of federal institutions. With Assembly elections looming on the horizon in several states, including Assam in 2026, the statements by Dr. Gohain and Bhuyan are being seen as a clarion call for broader political mobilisation.

Also Read: BJP Using Law as a Weapon to Silence Assam’s Journalists: Hiren Gohain