Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday defended his cabinet colleague and senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Keshab Mahanta after the latter’s daughter, Dibisa Mahanta, was allegedly seen joining a student protest and demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.The demonstration, held at Guwahati’s Chachal on Thursday, which drew Left student groups and other youth activists, saw Dibisa raising “We want justice” slogans, along with the protesters.Videos and photographs of her participation went viral on social media, triggering criticism and trolling of her father, Assam’s revenue and disaster management minister. In purported videos, she was also seen opposing police action against protesters in Delhi and demanding govt accountability.
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“How can I answer what my son and daughter will do? Nowadays, children do not always listen to their parents on many issues. They want to lead an independent life. Even my own children do not listen to me on many matters,” Sarma said on Saturday evening, adding that parents and their children could hold different ideological views.The CM said Dibisa’s alleged remarks against PM Modi had saddened him.“I know the girl. If I get an opportunity to meet her, I will speak to her on this. But at present, Keshab Mahanta holds an important responsibility. His duty is to help and support the flood-affected people of the state. If he is mentally disturbed because of such issues, no one benefits from it,” Sarma said.Stressing that parents could not be held responsible for the actions of their adult children, he added: “Whatever the girl said was wrong, and we will speak to her about it. But harassing her father should not have been done.”Drawing a parallel, Sarma said there would be little he could do if his son, after becoming an advocate, chose to represent someone he did not approve of. The CM had earlier praised his son, Nandil Biswa Sarma, for completing the Ironman Vietnam triathlon, despite criticism from Congress.Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia on Sunday said parents should discuss national developments with their children. “Parents should not just give dictations, but talk to their children regarding who is behind such a scenario in the country and who wants to make the country unstable.”Keshab Mahanta was associated with the Assam Agitation and the anti-foreigners’ movement led by the All Assam Students’ Union before joining the AGP, now a BJP ally in the NDA.
