Congress worker’s death during protest sparks political row in Assam
Guwahati: The death of Mridul Islam, a 45-year-old Congress worker and advocate, during the party’s ‘Chalo Raj Bhavan’ protest in Guwahati on Wednesday has triggered a political storm in Assam. The Congress accused the Himanta Sarma-led state government of attempting to intimidate protesters through excessive force.
Islam, a district-level office bearer in the Congress’s legal cell, reportedly complained of breathing difficulties after police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. He was rushed to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) but was declared dead on arrival.
The protest, part of a nationwide Congress campaign against the BJP-led central government on issues such as the Gautam Adani controversy and the Manipur crisis, saw over 1,000 participants marching from Latasil towards Raj Bhavan. The situation escalated when the police, citing a lack of permission for the march, used three tear gas shells to halt the demonstrators, who had breached two layers of barricades.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Diganta Barah stated that a post-mortem is underway to determine the cause of death. He claimed no lathi charge or other forms of force were used and that the tear gas shells were rolled on the ground to release smoke. However, Congress leaders allege that the tear gas was deployed excessively and directly under protestors' faces.
Congress worker Supriya Ahmed, who was present at the protest, recounted that Islam felt unwell after inhaling smoke from the tear gas. He was first taken to a private hospital and then referred to GMCH. The Congress has filed a complaint at the Latasil police station, demanding strict action against the police for what it described as “unlawful use of force.”
Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah described Islam as the “first martyr” in their fight against BJP governance in the state and called for a high-level inquiry into the incident. He also rejected the police’s claim that the march lacked permission, presenting a letter allegedly submitted to the Police Commissionerate a day prior to the protest.
The incident also drew condemnation from the Gauhati Press Club after several journalists covering the protest were affected by the tear gas.
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Kerala FM allays fears over Malayalam Language Bill amid objections from Karnataka
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Friday sought to allay concerns over the proposed Malayalam Language Bill 2025, stating that the legislation would not lead to discrimination against any section of society.
Addressing a press conference, Balagopal said, according to Asianet News, “I can assure you of one thing: there will be no discrimination against anyone in the state,” amid criticism from neighbouring Karnataka over the bill’s provisions.
The proposed bill has sparked debate over making Malayalam the first compulsory language across Kerala. Earlier, speaking to the media in Bidar on Friday regarding the issue, Minister Priyank Kharge said language promotion should not turn into enforcement.
“When states were formed, bifurcation was done on the basis of language. In Kasargod, more than 90% of the people speak Kannada. There is nothing wrong with promoting a language, but it should not be enforced,” ANN quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, expressing serious concern over the proposed bill. In his letter, Siddaramaiah warned that making Malayalam compulsory even in Kannada-medium schools could adversely affect minority-run institutions and place additional pressure on students in border regions.
Highlighting India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, Siddaramaiah reportedly said that regions such as Kasargod have historically thrived on linguistic harmony, with Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, and Beary shaping everyday life.
While reiterating Karnataka’s pride in the Kannada language, he stressed that language promotion must never turn into imposition.
Calling for a review, he urged the Kerala government to reconsider the bill and hold wider consultations with linguistic minorities, educators, and neighbouring states. He maintained that Karnataka would oppose the bill, if passed, using every constitutional means to defend minority rights and uphold the plural spirit of the Constitution.
