Akhil Gogoi Threatens Mass Agitation Over Flood Relief Demands
Protest Escalation Threat by Raijor Dal Chief
Raijor Dal chief's protest entered its sixth day on Wednesday
Guwahati, Oct 7: Akhil Gogoi, the leader of Raijor Dal and MLA from Sivasagar, has warned that his ongoing indefinite sit-in at Assembly Square will escalate into a larger mass protest if the Assam government does not address his demands for relief and compensation for families affected by floods in Upper Assam by midnight.
As his protest reached its sixth day, Gogoi stated he would await the government's response until midnight before determining the next steps.
“Should the Chief Minister ignore our pleas, this protest will evolve into a mass agitation. I will continue my indefinite protest and expect a response from the government by midnight. If there is no reply, we will amplify our protest starting tomorrow,” he declared.
Gogoi criticized Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for failing to provide a constructive response throughout his week-long demonstration.
He accused the Chief Minister of focusing on disparaging the protest rather than addressing the issues faced by flood victims.
Referring to Sarma’s recent comments, which labeled Gogoi’s actions as an attempt to “blackmail” the government, Gogoi emphasized that the Chief Minister's support for the protest was unnecessary; what mattered was support for the affected families.
“You don’t need to back us. What’s essential is your support for the 200,000 individuals impacted by the floods,” he stated, adding that he would cease the protest if the government announced full compensation for the affected families by October 31.
Gogoi also raised concerns regarding the government's evaluation of flood-affected families in Sivasagar.
He mentioned that a survey conducted by educators identified 55,000 affected families, while official government figures indicated that 575,000 individuals were impacted in the district.
According to data from the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), he estimated that approximately 115,000 families were affected.
Gogoi initiated his indefinite sit-in on October 2, presenting three primary demands.
These demands include immediate financial aid ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 for each family affected by the floods on July 19, compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each affected family and business, and a CBI inquiry to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster.