Assam: MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami defends foreign trip during flood crisis, says he stayed connected with officials

Former Assam Assembly Speaker and BJP MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami on Monday, July 27 responded to criticism over his foreign trip during the recent flood crisis in Upper Assam, stating that he remained in constant contact with the district administration, party workers and residents of his Jorhat constituency despite being overseas.

Addressing the media at the Assam Legislative Assembly, Goswami said the flood situation in Jorhat is now under control and that he has been coordinating relief efforts through regular communication with officials and party volunteers. He said the Speaker had permitted him to leave for Jorhat following the Assembly proceedings, where he will personally assess the flood situation and ongoing relief measures.

The BJP legislator clarified that he had travelled abroad with his family for his daughter's PhD admission process after obtaining the necessary permission and informing all concerned that he would return during the Assembly session. He said the visit had been planned well in advance and coincided unexpectedly with the worsening flood situation.

"When I left, the situation in Jorhat was normal. I did not think the problem would become this serious. I believed the water would recede soon," Goswami said.

He added that returning immediately was not feasible because cancelling existing travel arrangements and booking fresh tickets at short notice would have involved significant financial costs.

Goswami maintained that although he was physically away from the constituency, he remained in regular contact with the Deputy Commissioner and party volunteers engaged in relief operations.

"Even when I was not there, I was in communication with the Deputy Commissioner. Our volunteers have been providing flood relief," he said.

Rejecting allegations that he had neglected his constituency, Goswami said he has never sought publicity for his work and asserted that residents of Jorhat had not raised any complaints against him.

"I do not seek publicity. I have never wanted it. The people of Jorhat have not made any complaints against me," he said.

During the interaction, Goswami became emotional while responding to questions regarding the criticism over his absence and was seen wiping tears from his eyes.

He said he would reach Jorhat by Monday evening to review the ground situation and oversee relief operations, expressing confidence that conditions in the constituency are steadily improving while assuring residents that he would continue to closely monitor developments.