Assam Activist Mira Borthakur Accuses BJP Workers of 'Online Harassment' for Standing against CAA

Guwahati, March 19, 2020:

Anti-CAA Activist Mira Borthakur on Thursday came down heavily on the Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for harassing her on social media and local mediapersons who "ignored" her situation due to the alleged involvement of BJP workers.

Recently, the activist was subjected to cybercrimes carried out allegedly by some of the Assam BJP workers. Borthakur's photos were morphed and uploaded on social media. After it went viral, the Nagarik Samaj of Assam took to publicly share her narrative.

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"My number was put up on a sex website. They (BJP) asked them to call me. They stripped me on social media and the local mediapersons did not dare to carry my story. A few have even said that it happens in Politics. I want to ask them will they tolerate this if they are subjected to the same issue? It is unfortunate that we live in such a society, wherein people are scared to speak against the ones in government," said Mira, while addressing a gathering at the Guwahati Press Club.

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Borthakur added, “They asked me on the issue and I told them the truth. I gave my byte to many news channels. None carried my side of the story. Later, after talking to a few of them, I learned that the ones who harassed me were BJP workers. If this continues and the Journalists refrain from exposing them, then nothing can be extremely unfortunate than this.

"They should refrain from giving judgments on the Talk Shows if they can't side with the truth. If the mediapersons can’t cover news against the BJP, I will never ever give any byte to any of the media houses. Also, note that a person in order to be in politics, does not need to come on TV. Also, there is one Editor-in-Chief who commented that if I can’t deal with such issues, then I should not be in Politics. I reiterate my stand…You should stay away from judging people. You should just present the news and be an anchor instead of being the judge," she continued.

Senior Journalists and members of the Nagarik Samaj, an organisation of learned people, accused the current BJP government of strangling the media.

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Bir Lachit Sena leader Shrinkhal Chaliha said, “I can’t feel that democracy exists in Assam. They just want votes. In Sivasagar, the BJP workers pay Rs. 500 to some 50 young men on a regular basis so that nobody else is able to apply for tender that is released. The BJP IT Cell has created a strength to defame Assam. The way they have abused Mira Borthakur and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi’s mother is unacceptable."

It may be mentioned here that the Nagarik Samaj has resolved to stand united against the current government and pledged to stand against its forceful implementation of the CAA.

The members also feel that they have been targeted for speaking against the government.

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