Sivasagar flood visit turns fiery as Akhil Gogoi faces tough questions from victims

Raijor Dal president and Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on August 11 said he faced criticism and angry reactions from flood-affected residents during a visit to relief-hit areas in Sivasagar, describing the experience as a reflection of public grievances and an important lesson for elected representatives.

In a social media post, Gogoi said that during his visit to Ailamukh village under Mogorahat Panchayat, a woman named Radhika expressed strong dissatisfaction over delays in reaching the affected area, inadequate relief distribution and the exclusion of some families from the government's immediate assistance package of Rs 15,000.

According to Gogoi, the woman also raised objections to the functioning of some local workers associated with his party.

The Sibsagar MLA said the criticism was spontaneous and stemmed from the frustration of people who had suffered extensively due to floods.

"My colleagues were upset and angered by the criticism, but I viewed it positively. It was an expression of the pain and anger of flood-hit people," Gogoi said.

Drawing a parallel between opposition criticism of governments and public feedback to elected representatives, Gogoi said that people's anger and complaints help keep public representatives accountable and connected to ground realities.

He added that the experience was the first time he had faced such direct criticism from flood victims during his tenure as an MLA and said it underlined the importance of listening to the concerns of affected people.

Large parts of Sivasagar district have been affected by floods this year, with several villages facing inundation, displacement and demands for more relief and rehabilitation measures.