Guwahati: Ahead of the forthcoming 2021 Assam elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has kicked-off the membership drive for high-profile individuals from the state. Many BJP high-profile members who once resigned from the party amid the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in December last year have rejoined the party. Even the anti-CAA voices, who were not a part of the BJP have also joined the saffron party.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, the BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass formally welcomed singer Vidya Sagar and actor Asha Bordoloi in the BJP. Vidyasagar, who took part in the anti-CAA protests said, “CAA will never harm Assam and the Assamese people. I was misled and the act was misinterpreted.”
While renowned actress Asha Bordoloi who was a part of the CAA protests in the state said, “I was not associated with the CAA protests. But I know it will not affect the identity of the Assamese.”
Addressing the media, Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that the party has now started their membership drive to induct high-profile individuals who once resigned from the party during the CAA protest or were anti-CAA voices.
However, on being asked about the cycle of resigning and rejoining the saffron party by prominent faces, Dass said, “During the CAA protests, in the name of safeguarding the Assamese culture and identity, many elected members and prominent BJP workers were pressurized by the pressure groups.”
Highlighting on the need for the high-profile individual’s resignation amid the CAA protests, Dass said, “I permitted them to confess before the media that they have resigned from the party, if the need arises. There were pressures from various pressure groups.”
“The life is important than the party,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, actor Jatin Bora rejoined the party after 8-months. He quit the party over the CAA protests. During the protests in December last year, he said, “Before an actor, I am an Assamese and I stand by my people. I oppose the CAB [Citizenship Amendment Bill].”
However, in the press meet on Monday, Bora said that he was “emotional” during the CAA protests and have made a “mistake”. “It was a mistake. I apologize for my emotional decision. We were misled,” he added.
