Assam CM: Don't Harass Minister Over Daughter's Protest, Parents Not Liable for Adult Children
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged that a state minister not be 'harassed' over his adult daughter's participation in a student protest, asserting that parents should not be held responsible for their children's actions. The remarks came after images and videos surfaced showing Dibisa Mahanta, daughter of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta, among protesters calling for the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest was held on Thursday at Guwahati's designated protest site in Chachal, in solidarity with demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Attendees demanded Pradhan's resignation over allegations of mishandling education policies. The Assam Police and CRPF were deployed in large numbers at the site.
In videos circulating on social media, Dibisa Mahanta, who completed two postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom last year, is heard raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressing support for the protesters. She is also heard criticising the police response, including lathi-charge and tear gas, while praising the students' bravery.
Minister Keshab Mahanta, who is engaged in flood relief work, has not commented on the matter. However, Chief Minister Sarma addressed the issue after a press conference on Saturday night. 'How can I be answerable for what my children say? My own brother does not agree with anything I say. My children also don't agree with a lot of things I say... All the reporters here who make reels against the BJP, their parents are all BJP... She has spoken against Modi ji, (and) I am sad about that. If I ever meet her, I will speak to her as well,' he said.
Sarma further cautioned against linking parents to their adult children's actions: 'Don't be surprised if my son, too, says something wrong tomorrow. My son will be a lawyer in the future and may represent people I don't like. Once children grow up and become adults, their actions should not be linked with their parents... What she said was wrong, but for that, we will speak to the girl. Why will we harass the father?'
The Assam Police arrested at least six people in connection with the protest under charges including acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, promoting enmity between groups, and criminal conspiracy. Following days of youth-led protests in Delhi and elsewhere, Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on Saturday.
