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| Comment: HIV-Positive Woman Running for Legislature in India's Assam State |
2006-03-21 03:00:00 <PWHA-NET> |
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Comment: HIV-Positive Woman Running for Legislature in India's Assam State
Jacob John
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[Mods note: This member wishes to alert PWHA-Net members about Jahnabi Goswami, president of the Assam network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (ANP+), running for the Assam State Legislature in India. Because of her long-standing effort to promoate HIV/AIDS awareness in the state of Assam, this member wishes to endorse her candidacy.
We welcome members to share your perpsectives on what the implications would be for PWHA networks in the state of Assam if she wins the election. A news article by The Telegraph (Calcutta, India) follows after this member's comment to provide more information on this candidate.]
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Dear Forum,
Jahnabi Goswami, the star campaigner for the cause of people living with HIV/AIDS in India, is beckoned to shoulder political responsibilities in Assam State.
Ever since Oscar Fernandez (President North East Parliamentary Forum) suggested her candidature for the ensuing Assam legislative assembly elections from the prestigious Barhampur constituency against the Ex Chief Minister of Assam Shri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta at the North East Parliamentary Forum meeting held on 19th October, opinion has been building up in congress and the media favoring her candidature. News papers in Assam, Khabar, Aji, Janasadharn and Sadhin have projected her as the most suitable candidate for the Barhampur constituency.
The present Congress Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi, State Home Minister Rakibul Hussain and Finance and Planning Minister Himanta Diswa Sarma in a late night meeting on 2nd March informed Jahnabi about their decision to suggest her candidature to the Congress High Command.
Jahnabi hails from the illustrious Goswami family of Pasonijhar, Kampur in the district Nagaon of Assam who took active participation in the freedom struggle of India. Her great Grandfather late Golok Chandra Goswami, her grandfather late Krishna Chandra Goswami and his three brothers were freedom fighters. Among them late Lakhi Prasad Goswami served as a cabinet minister of Assam. Jahnabi's father late Hiranya Kumar Goswami was a social worker loved by all. And her uncle late Nipen Goswami was a Member of Parliament and also served as APCC Spokes man and General Secretary.
Inherited from her family, the fighting spirit helped her when she faced stigma and discrimination. The news media stood with her when she decided to go public about her being turned away from availing dental treatment. She was turned away by the dentists, just because she responsibly informed the doctors about her HIV status for her to make sure that nobody gets HIV from her.
Jahnabi's preference to go public about her HIV status, her active involvement in fighting stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and efforts to protect and promote human rights has won her a seat in the hearts of people in North East.
Now it is time to see whether the Congress High Command provides her a ticket to win the Barhampur constituency seat in the forthcoming Assam assembly elections.
Jahnabi Goswami is the current president of the Assam network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (ANP+) and the Vice President of Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+) If given a chance for Jahnabi to contest, Congress will be creating a history by being a model, ensuring Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS.
Sent by: Jacob John
Email: awazdho@gmail.com
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News: From fight against AIDS to fight for poll ticket
The Telegraph, Calcutta, India
6 March 2006
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Nagaon/Guwahati - Jahnabi Goswami, an HIV patient and one of the most well-known AIDS awareness campaigners in Assam, has joined the ruling Congress at a function in Nagaon.
Jahnabi, who is from an interior village 45 km from the district headquarters town, yesterday submitted an application to district unit president Bharat Bhuyan for the party ticket from Barhampur Assembly constituency, stronghold of former chief minister and sitting MLA Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
She joined seven other Congress ticket aspirants from Barhampur, including NSUIs state president Bibhuti Bhusan Borthakur and senior party worker Citralekha Phukan.
"I will work for the party in the days to come even if the party high command does not approve my candidature," Jahnabi said.
Jahnabi, who is HIV positive, heads the Assam Network of Positive People. She contracted the virus from her late husband in the nineties. She has since been working to spread awareness about the disease in the state.
The rush for Congress tickets has intensified with over 700 applying since Friday.
The ticket-seekers thronged Haryana Bhavan in the Narayan Nagar area of Guwahati, where a training camp for PCC members was organised. AICC in-charge for Assam, Digvijay Singh, was the chief guest at the camp, which was attended, among others, by chief minister Tarun Gogoi, state Congress chief Bhubaneswar Kalita and senior party functionary Chandan Bagchi.
In the evening, Singh, Bagchi and Kalita met Gogoi at his residence.
The scene at the headquarters of the main Opposition party, the AGP was no different.
Nearly 1,000 supporters of former social welfare minister Rekha Rani Das Boro laid siege to the party head office at Ambari, demanding her renomination from the Barama Assembly constituency. The slogan-shouting supporters threatened mass resignation if she was denied a ticket.
Online at: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060306/asp/nation/story_5929579.asp#
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