Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi begins indefinite strike over pending flood relief in Assam

Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi began an indefinite strike at the Assam Assembly campus on Friday, October 2, demanding compensation for flood-hit families in Upper Assam and a CBI inquiry into the causes of the devastating floods.

Gogoi launched the agitation after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Gandhi Jayanti. The day also marks his birthday, which he has chosen to spend protesting over what he says is the Assam government’s failure to deliver promised assistance to flood-affected families.

The agitation follows an October 1 deadline set by Gogoi for the government to complete the distribution of flood relief. He had announced that the protest would begin on Gandhi Jayanti if the deadline was not met.

Gogoi has claimed that 30 to 40 per cent of flood-affected families in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat are yet to receive the promised Rs 15,000 interim financial assistance.

He has further alleged that flood victims in Sivasagar and Charaideo have not received the additional Rs 10,000 special relief announced for severely affected areas.

Apart from the pending relief, Gogoi is demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for every family that suffered major losses in the floods across the four districts.

He has also called for a CBI investigation into the causes of the floods, seeking an inquiry into the factors behind the scale of the devastation in Upper Assam.

The demands were first raised during a public rally at Chachal Dharna Ground in Guwahati on September 23. Protesters had called for immediate financial assistance for affected families as well as long-term compensation for those who suffered substantial losses.

In a letter to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gogoi highlighted the plight of families who, according to him, remain displaced and have not received adequate financial assistance.

“The government’s deadline has passed, leaving nearly half of the flood victims empty-handed. We are launching this agitation on Gandhi Jayanti to fight democratically for the rights and survival of our people,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi has said the agitation will continue until all eligible flood-affected families receive the financial assistance being sought.

For the Sivasagar MLA, the protest comes on a day that carries both personal and political significance — October 2 is his birthday as well as Gandhi Jayanti. Rather than celebrating his birthday, Gogoi has begun the day with an indefinite protest over the flood relief issue.