A leader of the students’ wing of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), who was arrested for showing a black flag to Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, joined the BJP on Saturday and accused KMSS adviser Akhil Gogoi of taking Rs 3 crore from the Congress and Rs 1 crore from the AIUDF to work against the ruling party.

Hiranya Pathari, the former finance secretary of the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), said he decided to join the BJP after being disillusioned by the activities of Gogoi. He said he was also attracted to the BJP given the rapid development carried out by the Narendra Modi government in the state.

He claimed that Gogoi had taken Rs 3 crore from the Congress to oppose the BJP and work for the victory of the Congress candidates.

Pathari also alleged that Gogoi had mediated between the AIUDF and the Congress to arrive at an understanding for the Lok Sabha polls and for that he was paid Rs 1 crore by the AIUDF.

The KMSS, however, dismissed the allegations.

When contacted, KMSS leader Dhaijya Konwar said Pathari was expelled on April 2 on charges of collecting money from different persons without permission or knowledge of the organisation.

Pathari was apprehended by the police in January for showing a black flag to Himanta Biswa Sarma to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. He, however, on Saturday said he was provoked by the KMSS leaders to show the black flag and said his stand is same as that of the BJP on the bill.

Other members of SMSS who joined the BJP along with him are Manas Chaliha, Ajit Hazarika, Nitul Rabha, Ramen Barman, Biswajit Bhagavati, Surjya Kumar Saikia and Parthajyoti Boro.

Jadab Das, a member of Anusuchit Jati Yuba Chatra Paishad Asom who had taken part in a nude protest against the bill outside Parliament in Delhi in January, also joined the BJP on Saturday in presence of state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and vice-presidents Vijay Gupta and Pradip Thakuria.

“Despite our organisation being a non-political one, our president Rubul Das openly supported the Congress. If he can support the Congress, then we too have the right to support the political party of our choice,” Das said.

The BJP state president said some vested interests had misled the people on the bill due to which there were protests against it in the state.

“Since our national president (Amit Shah) has already made it clear that the bill will be introduced in Parliament only after consultation and consensus, many of those who were opposed to the bill have joined the BJP,” Dass said.

He said the AGP, which is against the bill, has forged alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls. “Many others, who are against the bill, will also join the BJP in the coming days,” Dass said.