Assam CM calls Akhil Gogoi’s flood protest ‘politically motivated’

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has termed Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi’s protest over flood compensation as politically motivated, accusing the opposition leader of attempting to gain political mileage by raising the concerns of flood-affected families.

The Chief Minister said survey data on flood damage in three districts would be sent to the Central Government within the next couple of days. He expressed optimism that the state would receive funds soon to facilitate compensation for affected families.

According to Sarma, around 57,000 families have been identified as eligible for compensation. He said the government had conducted surveys multiple times and informed each family about the compensation they were entitled to receive.

Rejecting Gogoi’s claim that two lakh families had been affected by the floods, Sarma questioned the basis of the figure. He said electricity connections had been disconnected for around 1.30 lakh people and asked where the MLA had obtained the figure of two lakh affected families.

The Chief Minister accused Gogoi of turning the issue into a political campaign and seeking publicity by raising the plight of people affected by the floods.

Sarma said the government wanted to distribute compensation collectively and warned that politicising the issue, particularly by focusing on families who had not yet received assistance, could delay the overall process.

He further said Assam had experienced floods in previous years, but alleged that the issue had not been politicised in the same manner earlier.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the government was working to send the survey findings to the Centre and secure funds for compensation, while maintaining that flood relief should not be used for political gains.