Hitendra Nath Goswami Addresses Criticism Over Flood Absence
Goswami Responds to Flood Criticism
BJP candidate from Jorhat Hitendra Nath Goswami
Guwahati, July 27: Newly elected MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami has responded to the backlash regarding his absence during the recent floods in Jorhat, labeling the criticism as a political maneuver.
Goswami asserted that he maintained communication with both the district administration and party members throughout the crisis, suggesting that the criticism arose only after Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), visited the affected regions.
“This has been politicized. For the initial days following the floods, there was no mention of my absence. The issue only gained traction after Gogoi's visit. He too was absent during the first two days, possibly for his own reasons. I am not blaming him, but why should this situation be politicized?” Goswami stated to reporters outside the Assembly.
In defense of his absence, the BJP representative explained that he was abroad attending his daughter's graduation ceremony at the University of Edinburgh, where she received her PhD.
"Did anyone claim we did nothing? I intended to return sooner, but flight costs were prohibitive. The District Commissioner assured me I would be notified in case of an emergency. I was in regular contact with our workers, and the public has not raised complaints," he added.
Goswami mentioned that he returned to Assam on Sunday and participated in the Assembly session on Monday, emphasizing that it would have been inappropriate to miss the House proceedings.
Previously, on July 23, APCC president Gaurav Gogoi visited some of the most severely affected districts, including Jorhat, Sivasagar, and Charaideo, to assess the damage and engage with residents impacted by the floods.
During his visit, Gogoi called on the Assam government to provide a transparent account of the flood-related fatalities and ensure that timely relief reached all affected households.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in Assam has shown signs of improvement, with water levels decreasing in various areas of Upper Assam.
However, the death toll from this year's floods has risen to 68 as of Monday, following two additional fatalities in Charaideo district. Over 524,000 individuals remain affected across five districts.