‘Come out of your ego boat’: Akhil Gogoi appeals to Assam CM over flood probe

Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has demanded a CBI inquiry into the disaster caused by floods in Upper Assam that claimed 109 lives, saying the ongoing democratic protest has completed 216 hours as of 10:30 am on October 11.

According to Gogoi, the protest completed nine days at 10:30 am on October 11, with the 10th day beginning thereafter.

Addressing the issue, Gogoi said the government has a fundamental responsibility in a democracy to engage with protesting citizens, hold discussions and work towards a resolution.

“When citizens sit on a democratic protest, it is the government’s duty to come forward, engage with them, discuss their concerns and arrive at a resolution,” he said.

Gogoi cautioned that ignoring or dismissing democratic protests could lead to more intense forms of agitation. He said protests should not be treated as matters of ego by those in power.

“I am an MLA of the Assam Legislative Assembly, and I consider myself one of the most active and concerned MLAs. When an elected representative is sitting on a democratic satyagraha for nine days, the government should take the matter seriously,” he said.

Pointing to the proximity of the protest site to the state’s administrative offices, Gogoi said the Chief Minister was only around 100 metres away, while the Chief Secretary’s office was approximately 60 metres from the site.

He criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over what he described as an ego-driven and self-centred approach to the protest.

“I appeal to the Chief Minister to come out of his ego and focus on serving the people of Assam,” Gogoi said, urging the government to address the demand for a CBI inquiry into the flood disaster.