Bijoy Krishna Handique

Jorhat, April 17: In an attempt to prove his critics wrong, incumbent Jorhat MP Bijoy Krishna Handique has come out with a documentary. This film highlights his achievements and role during his four consecutive terms in the Lok Sabha.

The documentary, titled Astha — Journey So Far, has been made by Handique’s supporters. The 40-minute film has been directed, edited and filmed by Imtiaz Ahmed Saikia, a fresh graduate from the Mass Communications Institute of Delhi’s Jamia Milia Islamia University.

The documentary was formally released last night and screened before the media and party members. Handique’s supporters have plans to screen the documentary in street corners, clubs and even movie halls to neutralise the anti-Handique campaign. He is facing a tough challenge from the BJP’s Dayandanda Borgohain and CPI veteran Drupad Borgohain.

On the occasion, a booklet, also named Astha, was released. This, too, highlights Handique’s role in Parliament.

“This documentary has nothing to do to prove what I have done or not done. I know what my contributions to my people are. This is just an attempt to prove my critics wrong. They have been spreading a false campaign that I have no voice in the House,” Handique told mediapersons.

The documentary focuses on Handique’s speeches on important questions related to Assam in Parliament and development work carried out under his MP area development fund in Jorhat and Sivasagar districts comprising 10 Assembly segments.

The documentary also has comments from the public and recent election meetings addressed by Handique. Surprisingly, the documentary lacks comments by known Congress faces in the constituency but has remarks that favour Opposition parties. The movie also highlights Handique as a family man and a poet.

Opposition parties in the recent past have accused Handique of failing to focus on the problems of the region and doing little for the constituency despite being returned to Parliament four times in a row.

Handique has also been called a leader who has interacted the least with the common people. In their campaign meetings, the BJP and CPI candidates criticised Handique for not raising his voice in the House after the Centre diverted the four-lane express highway from Nagaon to Silchar, thereby depriving Upper Assam.

To this, Handique said he, along with other MPs of the region, had raised the highway issue and the government had given them a patient hearing.

“I am not opposed to the highway being linked with the Barak Valley, but Upper Assam should not be deprived. Moreover, Upper Assam has an international road link via the Stilwell Road, which could become the gateway to Southeast Asia,” Handique said.