Don't harass minister for daughter joining protest: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stepped in to defend a state minister whose daughter was seen participating in a student protest against the NEET examination system. Addressing the controversy, Sarma made a direct appeal to the public: do not harass the minister for his daughter's choices.

CM's appeal against trolling

Speaking to reporters, Sarma said targeting the minister over his daughter's participation in the protest would not be justified. He pointed out that children often hold views that differ from their parents.

"Don't harass a minister for his daughter joining a student protest. Don't be surprised if my son also decides to join a protest someday," the Chief Minister said, according to reports. His remarks came after the minister faced significant online backlash.

Protest context

The student protest in question was organised by the Common Joint Platform (CJP), a student body demanding reforms in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. The daughter of the Assam minister was spotted among the demonstrators, leading to a political storm on social media.

Several users had begun trolling the minister, questioning his authority and commitment to government policy. Sarma's intervention was aimed at cooling down the online fury.

Children and ideology

The Chief Minister elaborated that in a democratic society, children are free to form their own opinions. "They may not share the same ideology as their parents. That is natural," he said. Sarma urged citizens to respect individual choices within families.

He did not name the minister or the daughter in his statement. However, the context made it clear he was referring to the recent controversy that had been trending on social media platforms.

Political reactions

Opposition parties in Assam seized on the incident to question the government's handling of student grievances. They argued that if the minister's own daughter felt compelled to protest, it reflected poorly on the state administration's responsiveness to student issues.

The ruling party has so far not issued an official statement beyond the Chief Minister's remarks. The minister himself has not commented publicly on his daughter's participation in the protest.

What happens next depends on whether the student protests gain further momentum. The CJP has announced plans for more demonstrations in the coming weeks, and the Assam government's response to their demands remains awaited.