The Assam government came in for severe criticism from opposition parties and prominent personalities Thursday after sedition charges were slapped against a Sahitya Akademi awardee litterateur and two other known faces for their remarks on the citizenship bill.
The ruling BJP, however, defended the move and accused RTI activist Akhil Gogoi, against whom sedition charges were also slapped, of having links with Maoists and "terrorising" people with a "false issue" by campaigning against the bill.
The police on Thursday booked litterateur Hiren Gohain, KMSS chief Gogoi and senior journalist Manjit Mahanta under sedition charges for their comments on the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
The Congress, the AIUDF, the AGP along with the KMSS and the AASU termed the police action as ''unfortunate'' and alleged it has been carried out at the behest of the BJP government in Assam.
The Congress slammed the Sarbananda Sonowal government which it said believes "Hitler as a hero".
Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Debabrata Saikia accused the Sarbananda Sonowal government for harassing people who are speaking against the "anti-Assam" policies and are creating awareness about their undemocratic and autocratic ways.
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''Sonowal considers 'Hitler' as his hero and now it is certain that Hitlerian action will be taken on all those opposing his misconduct", the Congress leader said.
AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said it was indeed ''sad and shameful" that a sedition case has been filed against intellectual and social thinker Hiren Gohain and two others'.
The government cannot silence the voice of the people and their sentiments too cannot be ignored, he added.
AIUDF spokesman Aminul Islam also condemned the move.
"We may not agree with them on many issues but it is unfortunate that the government is trying to stop democratic protests and gag the voice of the people," he added.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) chief Gogoi accused the BJP government at the Centre of trying to create an "Emergency-like situation" in Assam by attempting to suppress protests by people against the bill.
"The BJP government has gone mad and is trying to create an emergency like situation to suppress a spontaneous movement by the people of Assam against the bill," he said.
"It is unfortunate that a learned 'pandit' like Gohain Sir has been targetted by the government and sedition charges filed against him.
"I am used to case upon case being filed on me and going to jail has become a lifestyle for me," the KMSS leader, who is spearheading the agitation against the bill by 70 organisations, said.
All Assam Students' Union chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya accused the BJP government in the state and Centre of "indulging in anti-national activities by going against the interest of the indigenous people and giving protection to Bangladeshis''.
"We condemn the sedition case filed against a learned intellectual like Gohain whom we hold in high esteem and respect," he said.
ULFA (Independent) in an email statement warned Chief Minister Sonowal for "harassing intellectuals" and the protestors of the bill and sought immediate withdrawal of charges against them.
Describing Gohain as "Assam's great thinker", Nagen Saikia, who is also a Sahitya Akademi award winner said, "I may not agree with him on various issues but what he thinks is right, he says it with courage."