Welcoming SC order on J&K internet access Tarun Gogoi says freedom of speech prevailed

The apex court’s order came on hearing of a plea in connection with internet blockade in Jammu and Kashmir since Aug 5 in the view of revoking of Article 370 in the Union Territory.

Tarun Gogoi said that, the Supreme Court has come to rescue the people of the country and to safeguard our constitution provisions, freedom of the speech.

“The Supreme Court’s order is just like freedom of speech. We must congratulate the Supreme Court and the people of India still have confidence that for our own freedom, right to express our dissent against the government, to criticize the government action, oppose it, will be safeguarded. We hope the government will listen to the voices of the Supreme Court,” Tarun Gogoi said.

On the other hand, reacting over Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s visit to Jawaharlal Nehru University, the former Assam Chief Minister said that she has also right to support, should stand in solidarity with the JNU students, to express her view."

“That is her individual freedom and that freedom has been provived by our constitution,” Gogoi said.

Earlier, the centre has reduced the security cover of the former Assam Chief Minister.

Gogoi was earlier covered by Z plus security and now it has been reduced to Z security cover.

His NSG security cover was also lifted in 2016.

Reacting over the downgrade of his security cover, Gogoi said that – “It is another step taken by the centre to see that I don’t criticize too much and I don’t play an effective role in opposing the Modi government.”

“But such steps will not be able to deter me, I will go and fight against the communal, divisive politics,” Gogoi said.

The former Assam Chief Minister further said that “We don’t want that India to be ruled by a dictator. It is a democratic country. We want democracy to be prevailed. We want to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Abdul Kalam, Dr Ambedkar.”

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)