Akhil Gogoi Halts Protest After Government Assurances on Flood Relief

Akhil Gogoi, the Sivasagar MLA, has suspended his 316-hour-long protest at the Assam Legislative Assembly after receiving assurances from the state government regarding relief for flood-affected families. Following discussions with Cabinet ministers, Gogoi outlined his demands, including compensation and infrastructure reconstruction. While the government has not fully met his compensation request, they have committed to assisting thousands of eligible families. Gogoi emphasized that if the government fails to deliver on its promises, he and his supporters will resume their protests. This development highlights ongoing concerns regarding flood management and relief efforts in Assam.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 15, 2026, 12:16 IST

Akhil Gogoi Suspends Long Sit-In Protest

Guwahati, Oct 15: On Thursday, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi decided to end his sit-in protest, which lasted for 316 hours at the Assam Legislative Assembly, aimed at securing relief and rehabilitation for families affected by floods in Upper Assam. This decision followed commitments made by the state government.

The breakthrough came after Cabinet ministers Pijush Hazarika and Keshab Mahanta visited the protest site early in the morning, as directed by the Chief Minister, to discuss Gogoi's demands.

During their meeting, the ministers received a memorandum from Gogoi, who leads the Raijor Dal, detailing his requests. These included compensation for the impacted families, an expanded beneficiary list, an investigation into the flood causes, and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

“I am pausing the satyagraha for now, but this is not the conclusion. Should the government fail to fulfill its promises or if the infrastructure is not restored, we will take to the streets again,” Gogoi stated.

Initially, the government had accused him of protesting for publicity, but the persistent efforts of Raijor Dal, along with other organizations like the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti, and Yuva Bahini, eventually led to negotiations with the government.

Gogoi mentioned that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had reached out to him via WhatsApp, urging him to “trust me once.”

According to Gogoi, the Chief Minister assured him that the first list would include 57,000 flood-affected families, with a second list to be created for those who feel they were overlooked.

While the government did not agree to his demand for Rs 10 lakh in compensation, they are considering assistance ranging from Rs 1.70 lakh to Rs 5.60 lakh.

Mahanta noted that the government had reviewed nearly 5,000 cases submitted by Gogoi regarding the pending Rs 15,000 relief payment, determining that 3,068 individuals were eligible for assistance.

“A total of Rs 4.60 crore will be allocated to the 3,068 eligible individuals who have yet to receive the Rs 15,000 aid,” Mahanta confirmed, adding that compensation distribution for the identified 57,000 flood-affected families has commenced.

He also mentioned that a new list would be compiled after assessing claims from individuals who believe they were excluded from the relief.

Mahanta further stated that the Chief Minister is open to initiating a high-level inquiry into the flood causes and the necessary preventive measures.

The "satyagraha", which commenced on October 2, concluded after 316 hours and 30 minutes. Gogoi expressed gratitude to the residents of Sivasagar, many of whom had been protesting outside the district commissioner’s office since October 3.

He encouraged those protesters to temporarily halt their agitation but advised them to stay ready to resume if needed.