FIR Against MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan Politically Motivated, Allege Prominent Citizens

A group of eminent intellectuals and civil society members have come out in strong support of Rajya Sabha MP and veteran journalist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, terming the FIR filed against him over alleged misuse of MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) funds as “politically motivated and conspiratorial.”

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the signatories expressed shock and concern over the filing of a complaint against Bhuyan, asserting that the allegations are baseless and designed to silence a vocal critic of the BJP-led government.

“It is widely known that the role of a Member of Parliament in MPLAD fund utilisation is limited to recommending projects. The release and monitoring of funds are the responsibility of the Deputy Commissioner and the district-level implementation committee. The MP has no control over fund disbursement or execution,” the statement read.

The signatories argued that in such a setup, blaming the MP for alleged misappropriation is “unjustified and without merit.” They further alleged that the move is part of a deliberate political vendetta against Bhuyan, who has consistently opposed the BJP’s “communal and authoritarian” politics.

“Ajit Kumar Bhuyan has been a relentless voice against the ruling party's ideological agenda. This FIR appears to be a tactic to harass and intimidate him,” the statement added. The signatories pointed to a growing pattern of opposition leaders being targeted through legal cases as a means to suppress dissent across the country.

“This is not an isolated incident. In recent years, both the Central and Assam governments have used coercive tactics and false cases to muzzle critics and silence political opponents,” they alleged.

Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the FIR, the group called on the authorities to stop weaponising institutions for political gain.

The statement was jointly issued by:
Dr. Hiren Gohain (Renowned intellectual and scholar), Apurba Kumar Baruah, Nitya Bora, Abdul Mannan, Indrani Dutta, Manorama Sharma, Paresh Malakar, Deven Tamuli, Masaddar Hussain, Shankar Saikia, and Deepak Goswami.

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