"Take oath at Kamakhya temple, I will call off protest": Akhil Gogoi challenges Assam CM

Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi hit back at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his allegation that the legislator was protesting against the government’s flood relief measures to claim political credit, saying he had no interest in taking credit for the relief work and would even give a written undertaking to that effect.

Gogoi said the state government should instead focus on ensuring that all eligible flood-affected families receive the promised financial assistance, particularly the pending Rs 15,000 relief amount, rather than accusing him of using the issue for political gains.

Reacting to Sarma’s remarks, Gogoi said, “The Assam Chief Minister has said that I am protesting to take credit. I do not need any credit from the floods.”

“If you want the credit, you take it. I will write it on paper that I do not need the credit,” he said.

The Sivasagar MLA questioned what work the government had carried out during the floods that would make him seek credit for its efforts.

“You could not rescue people from the floods. Am I asking for credit? You could not properly provide the relief. Why would I seek credit for that?” Gogoi said.

He also criticised aspects of the government’s relief measures, saying he would not seek credit for what he described as inadequate assistance provided to flood-affected people.

Referring to the distribution of sheets as part of relief material, Gogoi said people had even begun using proverbs to describe the assistance, questioning whether he would seek credit for such measures.

Gogoi alleged that around 30 to 40 per cent of eligible flood-affected people were yet to receive the promised Rs 15,000 assistance. He said the pending payments were the reason for his agitation and maintained that several affected families were still waiting for the financial support.

The MLA has been pressing the state government to expedite the release of pending flood relief, particularly in Upper Assam districts, where he claimed eligible beneficiaries were still awaiting assistance.

Gogoi also challenged Chief Minister Sarma to publicly assure flood-affected people that the pending assistance would be released.

He said he would withdraw his protest if Sarma visited the Kamakhya Temple and took an oath that the pending flood relief would be distributed within two days.

“If the Chief Minister goes to Kamakhya Temple and takes an oath that the flood relief will be given within two days, I will end the agitation that very day,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi has rejected the allegation and said the issue should be treated as a matter of ensuring that eligible flood-affected families receive the assistance promised by the government.