Assam Congress chief urges CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for government job for widow of party leader who died during protest

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Kumar Borah. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah on Saturday (December 21, 2024) requested Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to provide a government job on compassionate grounds to the widow of a party leader who had died during a protest programme.

Congress leader Mridul Islam had died during a ‘Raj Bhawan Chalo’ protest on Wednesday (December 18, 2024), with the Opposition party alleging that he was a victim of “police high-handedness”. Police had used tear gas shells on protestors, in which several Congress workers and journalists were injured.

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In a letter to Mr. Sarma, Mr. Borah claimed that Islam’s death was a “direct result of the overuse of force” by the police.

“Whatever our political differences, the death of a political worker in the service of democracy, at the hands of the State machinery, is a matter of great tragedy,” he said.

Stating that Islam leaves behind his wife and two young children, the Congress chief requested Mr. Sarma to grant a “suitable government job” on compassionate grounds to Islam’s widow Hamida Parbin in her home district Kamrup (rural) district as per her qualification.

“I look forward to receiving a positive response from you. I would personally be grateful if you show your compassion towards a grieving widow,” Mr. Borah added.